Benefits of Bulk
The Benefits of Bulk
On Earth Day, many of us consider ways we can live greener. For many consumers and retailers alike, that means bulking up. There are three key reasons that bulk foods are poised to become a bigger seller in supermarkets across the country, says the Bulk is Green Council: They are typically less expensive per ounce than their packaged counterparts; you can buy only what you need; and the lack of packaging is as green as it gets.
Long a staple of natural and organic food stores, bulk foods are becoming a popular addition to the offering of conventional food stores, according to the Bulk is Green Council. "At one time, virtually all of our business came from natural and organic grocers, but that's changing fast," said Scott Johnson, a member of the Bulk is Green Council, and president and CEO of Trade Fixtures, a manufacturer of bulk food merchandising systems. "Today, 50 percent of our systems are being installed at conventional food stores that are adding or enlarging bulk food departments."
Sustainable business leader Mark Devencenzi of SunRidge Farms, a provider of healthy staples, snacks and confections since 1977, buys bulk and offers his top five reasons for doing so:
Five Reasons to Buy Natural/Organic Bulk
1. Minimizes waste -- An easy way to eliminate unnecessary packaging; you might also consider using your own containers or bags while you're at it.
2. Saves money -- Especially important in today's economy, save money with products that cost less per ounce than their packaged counterparts. And with high gas prices, reduce trips to the store by buying a three-month supply.
3. Added convenience -- You can purchase as much or as little as you need.
4. Encourages healthy eating -- Get inspired to cook healthy meals from scratch with a variety of organic and natural ingredients all in one aisle.
5. Healthier for you and the planet -- Organic and natural foods are grown with little or no conventional pesticides or fertilizers, so now you can treat yourself and the earth.
To further enhance the benefits of bulk you can bring in your own containers to your local natural foods store and use those to fill up on your bulk favorites. Re-use those 32oz yogurt containers, the abundant collection of plastic storage containers we all have, cloth bags, or even re-use paper bags. "Just be sure to stick with the bags that are provided for your coffee," John Wood of The Green Grocer recommends. "The typical coffee bean is very oily and will wreak havoc on most of the other containers." By reducing your dependence on the plastic bags provided by your store you help reduce the amount that ends up in a landfill and reduces the cost on the store itself.
