Do you go to zero waste grocery stores?

**This article has been translated automatically and will be reviewed soon.**

Do you regularly visit a zero waste grocery store?

• No? For what? 🤔 A question of proximity? Allergies?

• Yes? Nice! 😍 And are you lucky enough to only go to a zero waste grocery store to find everything?

I asked the question on our Facebook group and learned that 99% of the people who responded and who frequent zero waste grocery stores have to compensate with another grocery store to complete their purchases.

It's a small sampling, but still! This figure surprised me. That's a lot 99%...

I wondered a lot about this.

At the same time, I admit it... I'm part of the 99% who have to compensate with something else because I have trouble finding everything I need in one place. I compensate with Lufa, the zero waste general store in my area and the fruit store in my neighborhood. And I admit that I go to Costco 3-4 times a year (I think my card isn't even profitable). Why am I going to Costco? Among others for the Goldfish (the big bags there, not the little ones). I'll talk more about this in another post about my epic quest for snacks for my kids.

In short, it complicates the logistics and the mental load, but at least I consume as ecologically as I can (to the extent that our family is possible).

DIFFERENT MODELS OF ZERO WASTE GROCERY STORES

I noticed when visiting several zero waste grocery stores that everyone has a quite different model.

It's fascinating to note that in some you can find much more than fruits and vegetables and dry bulk items. Some offer bread and pastries. Others cheese and organic local meat. I've even seen a zero waste grocery store offering bags of chips (organic) and local ice cream (in a jar). I thought it was really cool.

Some purists will say that it has no place in a zero waste grocery store. I think we're meeting needs, we're taking people to zero waste grocery stores and that's perfect! In fact, the problem here is the term zero waste which I don't really like; I have already talked about how the term zero waste is often misused .

CAN YOU FIND EVERYTHING IN ZERO WASTE GROCERY STORES?

In short, I would find it okay to find meat, processed products, local canned products. Tsé, if it will allow me to worry less, to come more often and buy more things in the same place: yes, yes and yes! And surely I'm not the only one to say that to myself? I have the impression that it could reach more people and bring them on board later. But hey, it depends on the values of the grocery store and we must respect that too.

Other cool things I've seen in some places:

Service! They fill your jars for you.
Returnable pots if we forgot our pots.
Milk, eggs and sliced bread (the essentials).
Complete zero waste grocery delivery! That’s fantastic, that’s my favorite point.
An offer of ready-made or almost ready-made meals to prepare in just a few minutes. That too is essential because sometimes I don't feel like cooking.
Recipe ideas with what is available in the grocery store, with the necessary portions and the cost per plate.
An access ramp for strollers and a space to leave them. I have even seen a play area for children at the entrance!!

IN CONCLUSION

The very important aspect of the eco-responsible grocery store is that it listens to the needs of its customers . So go ahead and talk to them about why you like hanging out with them and also about ways you can improve.

And if you just go there from time to time, it's already a good start! Keep going! It's one more step towards a more responsible lifestyle.

And finally, keep in mind that:

“THE IMPORTANT IS TO REDUCE. IT’S OKAY NOT TO DO ZERO WASTE. »