Most people know that bulk buying can save them a lot of money. When you purchase a larger quantity, shops usually offer discounts and lower prices per unit. Buying in bulk is not just economical, but also eco-friendly.
When it comes to buying in bulk, more is less, and the environment benefits when more is purchased. The amount of waste we generate keeps on growing every day due to unthinking purchases. Recycling is only possible for a fraction of that waste. Cyber Mondays, holiday gifting, Black Fridays, and sales hurt the environment.
Key Facts on Bulk Buying
Consider these stats on bulk buying:
- By buying in bulk, shoppers could save 27% on 30 common products. The average savings between bulk and non-bulk products in 2021 were 25%. Thus, consumers could save 8% by buying in bulk.
- You can save the most money by buying bulk paper towels, water, and batteries. Bulk purchases can save you 63% on paper towels, 58% on spring water, and 54% on AA batteries.
- In all 30 products, bulk savings were available, but they varied greatly and depended on the product. By far, Centrum Adult Multivitamins had the smallest bulk savings, at just 3%.
- Certain products cannot be frozen, such as mayonnaise and ketchup, but paper towels don’t expire. Consider shelf life and product usage patterns when buying in bulk.
What Bulk Buying Means for the Environment
As plastic packaging continues to accumulate in landfills and waters (causing plastic pollution on marine life), more and more people are becoming aware of its dangerous effects. There are still a lot of unnecessary plastic bags wrapped around most products -you’ll even find plastic bags inside the packaging!
Plastic products (most of which are single-use) have both environmental and economic costs. Packaging costs about 10% of a product’s price. Plastic waste and packaging waste add up for goods we use frequently. Bulk purchases will save the environment from the harmful effects of plastic pollution.
8 Reasons Why Bulk Buying is More Eco-Friendly
1. Cuts down on shopping trips
With all the supermarkets and shops available, we tend to shop much more than we should. Although treating yourself from time to time is not a sin, we all need to take note of the dangers of creating hazardous waste and increasing pollution levels.
We end up buying more than we need by going to the store several times a week. Buy bulk food, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies next time you’re at the store. Your shopping trips will be reduced by buying in bulk online. The environment will be less polluted, your car will produce fewer gas emissions, and you will spend less money on fuel.
2. You’ll need less packaging
For general items, buying in bulk will lead to fewer packaging materials being needed than when they are purchased individually. The packaging waste from buying one T-shirt today, followed by another a week later is a lot more than you need. Buying in bulk reduces packaging requirements. It is only necessary to do this for items you are certain will be used. More waste in landfills will result from piling up unnecessary items.
3. Environmental benefits
As we move towards more eco-friendly packaging, buying bulk prevents us from purchasing single-use packages of the same product, which end up in our landfills and cause harm to the environment. Although some food packaging is recycled, the truth is that most of it is not. Paper and plastic layers are mixed in stand-up pouches, for example, making it difficult to separate them. The soil and waterways are particularly damaged by plastic waste.
4. Using less plastic containers
Approximately 13 million plastics are used each day. When you pick up a bag made of plastic, you might not feel like you’re making any difference. The actions of every individual matter. At the end, bags made of plastics pollute our oceans, especially when you consider how much of it ends up there. Buying in bulk helps to reduce ocean waste.
Bulk purchases most likely refer to dry goods like cereal, spices, grains, nuts, legumes, and dried fruit. By bringing your containers or filling a bag with foods, you can reduce the number of plastic bags you use and save money.
Bulk purchases are available for several other commodities as well. If you have sufficient space, paper towels, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies make good bulk purchases.
5. Bulk buying saves money
When you buy in bulk, you often get a discount on those items. You usually receive an additional item completely free as well. So you will not only save money but also receive something useful for free along with the items you need.
6. Improved stock turnover
By buying in bulk, you will be able to turn over your stock more quickly, which means your products will be fresher. Buying fresh food means you won’t have to wait months for it to become available. By not letting them expire, there will be less waste. Recycling or upcycling items is better than buying them and then using them. It is always important to consider the end of life when buying something new.
7. Reduced food waste
A bulk purchase does not necessarily mean a large order. It simply means buying what you need. Your recipe may call for a tablespoon of za’atar, an exotic spice mixture you’ve never tried. By buying in bulk, you can test out only what you need.
In addition, bulk food products tend to be fresher. There are some flours and grains that are directly sourced from mills in the area, for instance. It reduces food waste in our homes when food stays fresher for a longer period.
8. Less carbon footprint
Take a look at all the packaging in your fridge and pantry. Think about how much energy it takes to make each package, how much ink it takes to print, and what it takes to source the materials. Afterward, the package is delivered once when it is filled with ingredients, then once to a warehouse, then to the store, before finally being delivered to your door.
Each of these materials uses quite a bit of resources throughout its lifespan, regardless of whether it’s glass, aluminum, paper, wood, plastic, or another synthetic material. The type of product you purchase indeed determines its carbon footprint more than anything else.
Forgoing that packaged product will reduce your carbon footprint and your overall environmental footprint, which will in turn guarantee a zero-waste lifestyle.
Bulk Buying these Products will Reduce Waste and Save Cost
1. Personal care supplies
Bulk buying six toothbrushes is cheaper when bought in a single package than buying six toothbrushes one at a time (and in seven different packages). By buying larger containers of toothpaste, soap, or shampoo, you’ll also be saving on packaging. To reduce plastic waste and save money, it is consistently recommended that you buy these supplies in bulk.
2. Cleaning products
In most cases, a bulk purchase of cleaning products such as laundry detergent or dishwashing detergent will save you money and reduce packaging. Alternatively, you can look for eco-friendly cleaning supplies that pack more products in smaller spaces, as well as refill containers rather than purchasing a new product each time.
3. Office equipment
When it comes to office supplies like pens and papers, buying in bulk online will offer you more per unit. The bulk savings are also available on various office supplies.
4. Food
Fortunately, we have several ways to save packaging costs by buying in bulk. Buying bulk foodstuff versus packaged foods could save consumers up to 89%, according to a University of Portland study. The savings on some items would add up if we all bought some items in bulk for a year, including:
- Bulk buying coffee would reduce foil packaging waste by 240 million lbs.
- A bulk purchase of almonds would reduce packaging waste by 72 million lbs.
- Every family could end up saving 7 lbs of waste in landfills by bulk buying peanut butter.
- One-fifth of packaging waste could be reduced by bulk buying oatmeal.
5. Vitamins
You can often save money by buying a large bottle of a vitamin that lasts for a whole year instead of buying multiple small bottles. You won’t have to excuse yourself as often because you’re out of vitamins when you buy in bulk.
Important Tips for Bulk Buying
- Ensure you have enough storage space: The more bulk purchases you make, the more room you’ll need at home for storage. Make sure the items you bought in bulk can be stored in the garage, kitchen, or bathroom. Organizing everything will make it easier for you to use it with just a little rearranging.
- Family and friends can order together: When you order items together with someone else, you can save even more money and packaging. The person could be a relative, friend, colleague, or even your neighbor.
- Avoid overstocking: Bulk purchases should only be made if you are sure you will use them. Buying bulk items such as clothes, toilet paper, or other household items is ideal. However, be cautious when it comes to food and items you may not need.
Consider how much you will use before the item expires when choosing a product with a shorter shelf life. In time, some body care products lose their effectiveness, especially eco-friendly or small-batch products.
Final Words
Don’t let your home become cluttered. Donate everything you no longer use or need. Make room for environmentally friendly bulk purchases. Instead of making three trips to the store a week, make one. If you live miles away from the store, you should order items online instead of going there.
The majority of plastics and toxic items have their climate-friendly counterparts, so buy eco-friendly items instead. You will be grateful to nature if you surround yourself with it. We want to help people in need while creating healthy, environmentally friendly products. Join us today!
