6 Ways To Make Your Shopping Zero-Waste

By Diana Serenli

Our ‘shopping footprint’ is important to the environment.Here are six small changes to make your shopping more environmentally friendly.

Zero-Waste sign from zero waste shop, Liberté Chérie. Credit: Diana Serenli

Reusable bag

Lidl plastic bag and tote bag on kitchen counter. Credit: Diana Serenli

Bring cotton shopping produce bags, you’re saving yourself 10p and reducing plastic waste. If you do buy a bag, reuse or recycle it!

Choose fresh foods

Fresh foods aisle at wholefoods shop, Regent’s Natural. Credit: Diana Serenli

Fresh foods have less to no packaging and buying wonky vegetables helps to reduce food waste.

Make a shopping list

Screenshot of shopping list. Credit: Diana Serenli

Making a list will help you to not buy unnecessary things like those big packet of crisps. It’s more air and package waste than food.

Look at the labels

Close-up of PEFC Certified Camomile tea package. Credit: Diana Serenli

Third-party verification such as Animal Welfare Approved or Humane Certified, means the packaging is more likely to be environmentally friendly.

Opt for better plastics

Different packages for different products on table. Credit: Diana Serenli

Plastics are never truly recyclable, but they dominate in packaging. Look for alternatives like lower-grade plastics such as HDPE or PETE. Even better, packaging made of glass or paper.

Zero waste shops

Wide shot of zero waste shop, Liberté Chérie in London. Credit: Diana Serenli

Grab your containers and fill them up. No packaging included you measure how much you need. Your shopping waste is smaller than at a grocery store.