Are you looking to improve your green footprint when buying goods? Knowing how and where to eco shop is essential if you want to care for our future. This Zero Waste Shop guide walks you through the zero waste concept and how you can implement it into your life.
Switching to a zero waste shop approach could significantly reduce your impact on the world. We all want to see a cleaner and greener planet. Reducing our waste and learning to eco shop is one sure way to make this a reality.
Table of Contents
Can you really have a Zero Waste product?
In terms of the recently popularised phrase “Zero Waste”, waste is generally referring to the material left over, once a product has been used.
Waste as an end product
For example, in terms of a plastic bag, the “waste” is considered to be the bag itself after it has been used.
Plastic bags can be recycled. In many cases, the rate at which they are being recycled is improving. However, it is still happening too slow and the environment simply cannot keep up with the amount of plastic bags used on a daily basis.
Waste during the process
The other (and more realistic) view of a product’s waste component starts before the product has even come into existence.
The energy used to power the lights in the office where designers work on a plastic bag shape is likely burning fossil fuels. The extraction of fossil fuels (and burning) creates waste.
The list goes on. Do all these wastes that go into a product count as waste? And in that sense, can any man-made product really be Zero Waste? Even a physical zero waste shop has waste.
Zero Waste is a great goal. Let’s aim for it.
While the concept of a zero waste lifestyle in our modern world may be near impossible, it is an amazing target. Zero Waste Shops are encouraging people to think about their waste and make conscious actions when buying.
A huge plastic-free movement is gaining traction over social media. With clean-up programs and organizations like 4 Ocean highlighting the amount of plastic pollution in our oceans, it is encouraging a multi-generational focus. We can see the enemy, we know what we need to do (stop creating waste). It’s now a matter of making that a reality.
Luckily, there are more and more options for people to zero waste shop and try to implement reusable techniques into our daily routines. Not only that, people are encouraging one another and celebrating the plastic-free/package-free options, like plastic free toothpaste and reusable bags.
The remainder of this post uses zero waste terminology in reference to waste as an end product (as referenced above).
What is a Zero Waste Shop?
There are a couple of different types of Zero Waste Shops.
For some, a shop needs to be in a physical location. However, more and more people are shifting their shopping habits to online shopping. It is partly due to convenience and partly to access to variety. Oftentimes, when searching online, you can find more or different products than you would in a single physical store.
This highlights that a Zero Waste Shop could be a physical location or an online eco shop.
How do Zero Waste Shops work
There are really two product types a Zero Waste shop sells:
- Products or produce that consumers can collect with their own reusable containers (to reduce the need for single-use containers)
- Products that can be reused to prevent future waste (the containers which collect the produce)
In summary, zero-waste stores should have products that can be reused or products/produce that can be collected with your own container.
Do Zero Waste Shops have packaging?
This depends on the shop and what product you’re buying.
A Zero Waste Shop can be a collection of various different eco-conscious brands. This means that the product items have been shipped from their fabricator. In general, these products come in some kind of packaging (even if you don’t see them, as they have been unboxed in the back of the house).
Which is the most eco friendly packaging?
Many conscious brands are making the change to become package-free (or at least the change to recyclable or degradable packaging).
Cardboard is being used to wrap some zero waste shop products, and in many products, plastic packing or tubing is being replaced with glass or tin (deodorants and toothpaste, for example).
However, there are some products that can be classed as zero waste that are still being sold in plastic packaging. This is for sanitary reasons. For example, personal care items like the reusable menstrual cup. This silicone cup can be reused over and over again, reducing the huge volumes of plastic packaging that using an alternative like tampons would.
We should be encouraging more companies to use cardboard (from recycled paper) as the packing of choice (if an item needs to be in packaging at all). All zero waste shops should not be using any plastic bags (biodegradable or not). If you have bought an eco friendly gift for a friend, learn more about sustainable wrapping options here.
What is a bulk store?
A zero waste shop “bulk store” is a place that (as the name suggests) stores things in bulk. This is to eliminate as much personal waste as possible for the consumer.
The idea is when you eco shop you buy good quality, environmentally conscious products and also try to be as plastic free as possible.
Bulk stores can carry a variety of items, from food to beauty products to kitchen cleaning products. Products or produce are usually stored in large (bulk) containers that consumers can access to fill up their own containers.
How to use your own container at a bulk store?
It depends on what product you are purchasing. However, in most cases, the product will need to be weighed.
If everyone is bringing in their own containers that weigh different amounts, how does the zero waste shop know how much product you’ve actually taken?
It’s generally a matter of weighing your container before and after. Every store operates slightly differently. Some are much more trusting than others and will simply ask you what your containers weighed before you filled them up. Others might weigh them themselves and make a note of it.
What items are best to get at a Bulk Store?
There are a few good go-to items to get from a zero waste shop bulk store. Normally ones that last (if you’re buying in bulk you’ll probably be storing them for a while).
Food Items
- Rice
- Grains
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Dried fruit
- Flour (variety)
- Oils
- Coffee/Tea
Non-food Items
Some zero waste essentials for your home may include:
- Cleaning products
- Soap
- Toothpaste
- Bath bombs
- Toilet paper
Is shopping online eco friendly?
It really depends on where you are and how far away from the store you need to drive.
With companies offering free shipping on their online bought products (even when they’re on sale) it is sometimes hard to imagine how going into the physical store could be a better option. But, the best way to eco shop could be from your computer (depending on where you live). Assuming you don’t live next to a zero waste shop.
Is online shopping better than traditional store shopping?
A study by MIT in 2013 looked at the difference in carbon footprint between shoppers who bought products online and those who bought them in a traditional storefront (not a zero waste shop).
The results showed that:
- Online shopping was more eco friendly for those living in a suburban area
- Physical store shopping was more eco friendly for those living in urban areas (cities)
It should be noted that these were based on shoppers in the USA. It also did not take into consideration, rural shoppers. Obviously, if you can ride your bicycle to the local organic farm for your groceries that is going to far outweigh getting anything delivered from online shopping.
Is thrift shopping eco friendly?
Sustainable fashion is fast becoming a growing interest in the fashion world. Creating clothing made from recycled material or organic threads is a really great way to help reduce the chemical and waste loading on our planet. However, thrift shopping is more eco in a sense.
Not having to make another product and buying a recycled item is generally more eco friendly. In a sense, it is also a way to zero waste shop, as the product was already made, you are simply re-buying it.
What about Zero Waste shipping?
Packing and shipping are the biggest contributors to the carbon footprint of a product (if bought online from a Zero Waste shop or not).
However, the carbon footprint of running a website is much less than that of running a physical store. Even with store-bought items, most mass-produced items have also been stored in large warehouses (like those of online bought products). It’s difficult to compare all products against buying online vs. store-bought as each product has its own unique carbon footprint.
There are some ways to ship zero waste. The Zero Waste Store and Amazon have “eco” packaging (cardboard boxes, water-activated tape, and paper shipping labels). The Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging is an option that you can choose to reduce your shipping waste.
Where to find a Zero Waste Shop
In the age of the internet, it’s never been easier to find a zero waste shop so that you can eco shop online (or even in person). There are a couple of big brands that host eco friendly products in physical stores, such as:
- Ecostore
- Biome
- Zero Waste Stores
Eco friendly online shopping platforms
Online eco shops are often a collaboration of different sustainable products or brands. They can put together “zero waste kits” or “zero waste home packages”. They are not necessarily a physical place housing all of the items in one place, but simply a list of relevant products.
In most cases, an online zero waste shop will simply display eco or sustainable products that can be bought through another purchasing platform (such as Amazon).
- Our Eco Store – This is a combination of the newest and best sustainable (zero waste) products on the market. Products can be purchased in either USA, Europe, Australia/New Zealand. In the USA, they are delivered by Amazon. *Be sure to select the Frustration Free option to reduce your packaging waste.
- The Little Eco Shop is a great one for Australia!
- Ecostore.com is a good one if that’s the brand you are looking for (ecostore brand)
- Package Free Shop is a good one for a “starter kit” which has some great sustainable/reusable products in one pre-made kit
- Earthlove.co has some great zero waste gift boxes!
Eco shop near me
The easiest way to look for a physical store is just to look online as there is no real global store map just yet!
- Litterless has a great list of state by state bulk store in the USA
- Zerowastenear.me is a great one for the UK which has a map
What are some Zero Waste living ideas?
As discussed, by “Zero waste” we mean no end waste, not total waste. In many cases, even a Zero Waste Shop will have some kind of waste.
It is likely that you’re reading this on a computer or mobile device. There have been huge amounts of energy and waste created in the making of your device. Approximately 12,000 liters (3,200 gallons) of water are used to make a smartphone, for example.
Let’s start a zero waste life where we don’t need to throw out huge volumes of unnecessary plastic wrapping each week. Let’s start to eco shop and use the Zero Waste Shop platforms as alternatives to mainstream packaged/single use items.
Zero Waste Ideas for your House/Home
There are two main areas within the household where zero waste actions can quickly come into play.
- Food
- Cleaning
Zero Waste Cooking/Food Prep/Eating at Home
As mentioned above, bulk stores are a great place to eco shop for food items.
Food
- Bring your own containers to the zero waste shop and fill them up with dry foods. It saves on huge volumes of individual packaging.
- Shopping for fresh fruit at farmers’ markets or stores that don’t individually wrap items (you can also bring your own plastic bag alternatives when shopping for fresh food to avoid more plastic bags)
- When preparing food in your kitchen, you can use a kitchen bench compost bin to put your organic waste in.
- When you do have a plastic wrap to throw out, give it a quick rinse and put it in your bin (without a plastic bag liner). We don’t actually need to use a plastic bag bin liner if you keep your organics/food waste separate. This will significantly reduce your plastic bag usage each week.
Cleaning
- Buying (natural) cleaning products at your closest zero waste shop or bulk store will significantly reduce the number of plastic bottles you would normally buy with store-bought cleaning products.
- Alternatively, you can make your own cleaning products at home. We use vinegar and water to clean most surfaces, and bicarbonate soda to get into the bathroom once in a while.
Why should we use eco friendly cleaning products?
Learning to eco shop and use zero waste shops will significantly reduce your own waste footprint and, by encouraging others, can lead to a truly sustainable future.
A great way to start heading towards zero waste is to use environmentally friendly cleaning products (some of which you can buy at a zero waste shop).
While not only considering our packing waste, we should also consider the environment. Using natural or organic cleaning agents means that there are no harsh chemicals flowing into our sink, which ultimately end up in our waterways and seriously impact marine life and ecology.
Zero Waste Ideas for Out & About
It will depend on where you are going and what you are doing as to how exactly you can reduce your waste. However, here are a few easy things you can do/bring with you on your adventures to reduce the need for single use items.
- Bring a refillable water bottle – to avoid buying bottled water
- Bring a collapsible/reusable bag – they take up hardly any space and can unfold to accommodate any spontaneous purchases (from a zero waste shop or others) that you might make
- Reusable straws are great to take with you – don’t forget to ask for “no straw” when you order!
- Organic sunscreen in a tin – this will reduce your need for plastic tubes!
Check out our eco store or get these zero waste products to get started!
How to be more eco friendly?
Being more eco friendly starts with awareness and then requires action.
Being aware of what is going on out in the world. A great way to understand the actual implications of our lifestyle as humans and what it has done to the world on an ecological scale.
Eco travel is one way to see the world first hand through responsible and sustainable practices. Learning about animal tourism, and knowing how to pick a good eco resort is all part of it.
While there is already a signifiant amount of damage done to our environment, it is not too late to change. Becoming aware and taking action towards a waste free future is a great step.
Join the Zero Waste/ Sustainable Online Community
There is an amazing online community sharing ideas on going zero waste, eco shopping, and more. Pinterest is a great platform to connect and share on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Here is the ultimate list of sustainable Pinterest Group Boards that you will want to join or follow for inspiration.
Or learn how to use travel hashtags to share your eco travel experiences!
Like This Article? Pin it!
Aaron is one of the co-founders of The Dharma Trails. His background in marine eco tourism and writing have blended together to create the eco travel platform read by users around the world.
