Bulk is Green Encourages Buying in Bulk for Earth Month

Apr 22, 2013
Katherine Sweet

Earth Month is the perfect time to bulk up. No, I don’t mean your weight. I mean your grocery store habits. Purchasing bulk foods from bins at your local market can help the environment by cutting down on packaging that would likely end up in a landfill and bulking up your wallet.

In honor of this ecological time of year, the Bulk is Green Council has issued a “Love Bulk Foods” challenge. Whatever eco-minded consumer pledges to purchase bulk foods once a week, formally registering on the Love Bulk Food pledge page, has the opportunity to win a gift basket bursting with all the starter items needed to create an organic pantry full of bulk foods.

“Our goal is to get current bulk food shoppers to take the pledge, but more importantly – but we are also hoping to introduce new shoppers who don't typically shop in the bulk foods aisle. We want them to realize all of the common pantry staples that are available in the bulk foods aisle such as grains, spices, beans, nuts, flours, dried fruit, etc. But more importantly, we want shoppers to understand that they can make a green choice when grocery shopping – by purchasing foods from the bulk bins – which has a positive impact on the environment and also helps address the issue of food waste,” Todd Kluger, BIG Council member and marketing vice president at Lundberg Family Farms, said.

Contestants are entered into a drawing in which a new winner is selected each week at random. You get to save money and feel good. The planet gets to save landfill space and avoid excess food ending up in the trash. It seems the perfect mutual green kickback for Earth Month.

Kluger encourages all shoppers to give the bulk food aisle a try. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask a store attendant. You may be surprised at the money you will save. Do your own price comparison and find out.

“Pay attention to the amount you select (or scoop, in the bulk foods section) when experimenting with a new spice in your favorite spaghetti sauce recipe or stocking up on trail mix for the kid’s lunches,” Kluger said. “Overdoing it only means you’ll pay, literally, the next time you rid your cupboard of outdated food.”

Since its inception in 2008, The Bulk is Green Council has fought to increase consumer, retailer and grocer awareness of the incredible green and economic advantages of purchasing bulk foods. The organization functions as a research and advocacy council, offering many digital educational tools and resources. Its board consists of industry leaders from companies such as Frontier Natural Products Co-Op, Hain Celestial, Lundberg Family Farms, SunRidge Farms and Trade Fixtures. For more information, visit BulkIsGreen.org.

If you want to take the pledge, visit the Bulk is Green pledge page.