Zero waste shopping list
The kit does the work here, not the willpower — bring the right containers and a packaging-free shop becomes a normal one, not a project.
14 items
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
The items
- Jars, washed and dried×4Wide-necked ones scoop easier than narrow ones — worth having a few of each shape.
- Cloth produce bags×6For fruit and vegetables sold loose — lighter than a jar and easier to carry a lot of.
- Large tote bags for the whole shop×2
- Containers weighed empty before filling, where the shop tares themAsk at the till if you're not sure how a particular shop handles the weight of the container itself.
- A permanent marker or a chalk pen for labelling jars
- A shopping list sorted by what's sold loose or refillableWritten from what the shop actually offers, not from a supermarket habit that doesn't apply here.
- Refill shop or market checked in advance for what it stocksRanges vary a lot — worth knowing before arriving with jars for something they don't sell.
- A reusable bottle for any liquid refills — oil, washing-up liquid, shampoo
- Small paper bags kept as a backupFor anything you forgot a container for, so the trip isn't wasted on one gap.
- Beeswax wrap or a container for anything from a deli or cheese counter
- Egg box brought back for a refill, if the shop offers it
- Cash or a card that works without a minimum spendSome smaller refill shops don't take card under a certain amount — worth checking before you're at the till.
- A rough idea of quantities needed, to avoid over-buying loose goodsLoose food bought without a plan goes off just as fast as packaged food does.
- Nothing bought that will only be used onceThe whole point is less waste overall — a container bought for one shop and never reused defeats it.
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
Questions people ask
- Where can I actually buy things without packaging?
- Refill shops and market stalls are the most reliable, and a growing number of supermarkets have a refill aisle for dry goods. Check what's local before assuming there's nowhere nearby.
- Do the containers need to be a particular weight?
- Weigh them empty first if the shop deducts the container weight at the till — known as taring. Ask if you're not sure, since not every shop works the same way.
- What if I forget a container?
- Most refill shops sell paper bags as a fallback, so a forgotten jar isn't a wasted trip. It just costs one more piece of packaging than the trip was aiming for.