Buy from Bulk Bags and Save Plastic

By Bernadette Simpson

Last month I suggested that one way to reduce the amount of plastic packaging on food was to buy food in the largest size package available. This reduces the amount of plastic waste we “throw away.” This is an effective strategy when there are no alternatives. But for many of the goods typically packaged in plastic, there are alternatives.

One of the best alternatives is to purchase dry goods from bulk bags/bins, remembering of course to use your own reusable bag or container instead of the disposable plastic bags provided by the shop. It's a fantastic way to reduce your plastic footprint!

[caption id="attachment_42611" align="alignnone" width="576"] Popcorn in a cotton bag[/caption]

Here are some of the items you can purchase from bulk bags:

lentils, several variety of beans, chick peas flour – all-purpose and semolina karkade Egyptian and Basmati rice sesame seeds dried sage and various other herbs and spices nuts (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts) popcorn kernels

There are more goods available (and I'm sure the options are greater in Cairo), but these are the items that interest me the most. We use them often in our kitchen and had been buying them in plastic packaging, some of them with polystyrene or plastic trays as well, so it was time to try something new!

The first step in buying from bulk bags is to locate a store that sells from bulk bags. Take a look at your favorite store or the closest neighborhood shop and take note of what they offer from bulk bags. You may need to visit more than one shop to find one that carries the most of what you are looking for. As you visit these shops, you'll also want to ask whether or not you would be allowed to use your own bag. All the shops we've tried here in Dahab have not had a problem with us filling our own bags. But these are all very small shops and we have to go to more than one to get everything we want. Larger chain supermarkets in Cairo and other cities may have store policies preventing customers from using their own bag so do check beforehand.

Once you've found a place that sells goods from bulk bags, you'll need several reusable bags or containers. We use a range of containers—cotton bags of various sizes, plastic and glass jars, tin and stainless steel boxes and containers. Check your kitchen cupboards and see what you already have that may work. Save and clean any honey or jam jars you have; they make great nut and spice containers! If you don't have any bags or containers, you can always reuse plastic shopping bags that you probably already have. Just give them a good wash and let them dry thoroughly.

You're now ready to shop from bulk bags! Choose the one food item that is usually packaged in plastic that you use the most and start with that one. As you — and the store clerk — become more used to this plastic-free habit, choose and add another item to purchase from the bulk bags.  Continue adding items one by one until you are purchasing everything you can from the bulk bags.

We usually weigh and fill the containers ourselves, but sometimes the store clerk will assist. Find out what the procedure is at your chosen shop. If you help yourself, you'll start by taring the scale, or setting it to zero with the container on it. Electronic scales have a “TARE” button — put your bag on the scale and press this button. The screen will then read something like “-0.45” and then zero. You can now remove the bag and fill it with the amount of goods you want to buy. When you place the bag back on the scale, the weight shown on the screen will be the weight of the items you are purchasing only, not the bag.  You may have to go back-and-forth a few times until you get the desired amount. Depending on the shop, you may get a printed sticker or handwritten receipt to bring to the cashier. Here in Dahab, as I checkout I simply have to tell the cashier how much of each item I bought when I show him the bags.

[caption id="attachment_42613" align="alignnone" width="478"] Chickpeas and sesame in cotton bags[/caption]

At home, we transfer the goods to a glass or other reusable containers for storage if necessary. The goods will need to be washed and/or picked through before use. We didn't do this with the first bag of lentils we purchased from the bulk bag — and we have learned our lesson after trying to eat a bowl of very gritty lentils! It's not uncommon to find a few small stones mixed in (I found a couple in the last batch of chick peas we bought) but I've also found rocks in food packaged in plastic so it's just good practice to pick through all dry goods before cooking.

We didn't switch to buying all these foods from the bulk bags at once. We started with nuts and moved on from there. It takes time to form new habits so be patient with yourself. And don't give up — each item we can purchase without packaging means a lot less plastic trash.

Do you purchase items from the bulk bags? If so, do you have a preferred store? If not, are you willing to try? Why or why not?

For more information, visit the Don't Mess with Dahab blog.