Buying food in bulk may seem like a hassle, but not only is it better for the planet, it can save you a ton of money.
I guess you could call it a “wake-up” moment. I was standing in aisle 12 of a grocery store in Los Angeles, looking at a bag of organic oats. A bag of oats costs $11.99 (£9.55). That’s probably enough oats to feed my family for a week. I was fed up. I know oats aren’t that expensive.
Sure, I go to the local supermarket for convenience and to save money, but this is ridiculous. I can’t help but feel like I’ve been ripped off by my friendly neighborhood supermarket.
Then, in aisle 12, I vowed to find a way to buy direct from the manufacturer and cut out the middleman. I wanted to see what I could buy and how much I could save, plus, as a bonus, cut down on packaging costs.
The first thing I did was make a list of the dry goods I buy most often. I started researching how to buy dairy products directly from the manufacturer, but that quickly became complicated. So I started looking for ways to buy butter, oats, rice, mung beans, and tea leaves in bulk.
I had to find reliable sources of organic produce, research the supply chain — where the vendors were, where their produce came from, how they shipped it — and then figure out the cost and how each product was packaged. I did a lot of research. Especially oats.
It took all my school maths knowledge to work out whether a 25lb (11.4kg) bag of organic oats, which I was going to buy for $48 (£38.21), would be cheaper than a 2.6lb (1.18kg) bag for $8.99 (£7.16). The answer is yes. Large bags cost $1.92 (£1.53) per pound, while small bags from supermarkets cost $3.46 (£2.75) per pound. If I bought 25lb (11.4kg) of oats from the supermarket, it would cost me $86.50 (£68.86).
And here’s organic coconut oil: 3.8 litres (1 gallon) costs $30.75 (£24.48), while 400ml (14.1 oz) costs $7.49 (£5.96). If I bought the same amount in individual jars, it would cost me $71.15 (£56.64).
I was also quite pleased with the mung beans I bought. I usually buy a 2lb (0.91kg) bag for $11.99 (£9.55). I found a 25lb (11.4kg) bag for $71.75 (£57.11), a saving of $78.13 (£62.19). That’s right, if I bought the same amount of mung beans in smaller quantities, I’d have to spend twice as much.
Tracking whether buying in bulk is good for the planet is tricky. And I’m not the only one who thinks so.
“From a consumer perspective, determining whether a product is eco-friendly can be challenging due to the lack of complete information needed to assess its environmental impact,” says Valérie Patro, a PhD student in sustainable innovation at École Polytechnique de Montréal in Canada. “While we can measure the benefits of reducing waste, assessing the carbon footprint requires more detailed data, which is typically obtained through a life-cycle assessment.”
Ultimately, I decided to keep things as simple as possible. I found a company that sold almost everything I needed for this experiment and ordered mung beans, dandelion root powder (which can be used as a tea and coffee substitute), rice, and oats. By ordering all of these items at once from the same company, I cut down on shipping emissions and packaging costs.
Globally, food miles account for 19% of the food system’s emissions, so it’s important to me to buy local whenever possible. Essential Organics is headquartered in Washington, D.C. But our products come from all over the world. My dandelion tea comes from China. My rice comes from Thailand. My mung beans come from India. My coconut oil comes from the Philippines. My only source from the U.S. is my oats. I’ve never been able to calculate my carbon footprint. I also can’t calculate the cost of buying any one item.
Alanna LaVerne, a spokeswoman for the online retailer Essential Organics, said the company sets higher minimum shipping fees because it aims to encourage bulk purchases. “This minimizes the ratio of product to plastic packaging, giving customers a bigger savings per pound,” LaVerne said.
It’s hard to find the balance between buying in bulk and buying local, and there are trade-offs when it comes to sustainable shopping. In general, I find that if I can order in bulk from the same place at the same time, then I’m taking reasonable steps to reduce the carbon footprint of my food. But will my carbon footprint be lower if I just buy my oats when I go to the store? It’s a question worth spending a few hours pondering.
In the U.S., only 4% of plastic waste is recycled. Globally, the figure is slightly higher at 9%. But that’s still an alarming figure given the amount of plastic we consume and its devastating impact on the environment.
I wonder, besides saving money, does buying in bulk reduce waste? Unfortunately, there isn’t much research on this topic. However, a 2023 study co-authored by Paltrow found that American consumers are looking for solutions to reduce waste, especially plastic waste from single-use packaging.
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“There are more and more scientific studies using life cycle assessment methods that are looking at bulk purchasing options,” Patro said. “Many studies have shown that buying in bulk is better for the environment than buying the same amount of product in single-use containers,” she said.
However, the environmental impact of different products varies. “For example, products like yogurt and nuts that require careful cleaning after use will have different environmental footprints depending on factors like the energy used to clean them,” Paltrow says.
I’ve switched to shampoo and conditioner and no longer use plastic bottles, so I don’t need reusable bathroom products. But I do want to make my kitchen more eco-friendly.
The oats came in a large brown paper bag, which was a nice touch since I usually buy my oats in either a paper box with a plastic lid or a plastic bag. So buying bulk oats is a win-win for both the environment and the price.
But the oil comes in a giant plastic bucket, while each jar is glass. (Read a comparison of the eco-friendliness of plastic vs. glass.) But then I got into the topic of recycling in Los Angeles, and, well, that’s another article. Glass is generally easier to recycle than plastic: About a third of all glass is recycled.
In a 2023 study, researchers found that most consumers are not willing to pay more for bulk purchases of reusable products. The main barriers to bulk purchasing are hygiene issues, additional hassle, and limited access. The main motivators are environmental concerns and economic incentives.
Looking at my newly added cupboards, I also began to think about other obstacles. For example, some diets may be better suited to bulk buying than others. As someone who cooks for herself a lot, typically eats minimally processed foods, and uses a lot of plant-based ingredients, this shopping method suits me and my eating habits. But apparently, mung beans aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. While green beans may be cheaper overall, for those on a budget, it’s not always possible to invest a large amount of money in food at once.
Paltrow added that information about the benefits of buying in bulk is limited. We often think that buying in bulk is better for the environment, but without understanding the entire life cycle of a product from production to consumption, it’s difficult to assess its full impact. Paltrow explained that we need more information to be more willing to buy in bulk.
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