National Bulk Foods Week: Why buy in bulk?

The Bulk is Green Council (BIG), together with natural food stores and grocery stores across the country invite shoppers to celebrate the eco-friendly and affordable benefits of buying natural and organic foods in bulk during National Bulk Foods Week, October 16 to 22. To commemorate the special week, BIG is partnering with retailers nationwide to offer special incentives and discounts on natural and organic bulk foods to shoppers. Here's why you should be buying in bulk year-round.

Be inspired by National Bulk Foods Week

Do you steer clear of the bulk aisle because the dry goods don't come packaged? That is actually the very reason you should be shopping in bulk. “Bulk food aisles have been around for decades, and the countless environmental and money-saving benefits are becoming more well-known among shoppers,” says Clint Landis, chief marketing officer for Frontier Natural Products Co-Op and a founding member of the Bulk is Green Council. “Still, for those who have never shopped in bulk, National Bulk Foods Week provides the perfect opportunity to discover the environmental and economic benefits of doing so.”

Save even more money this week

Buying in bulk already offers significant cost savings, and during National Bulk Foods Week, stores throughout the country will offer further discounts on bulk foods. BIG encourages shoppers to check with their local grocer for their plans to participate in the festivities. Over 500 natural food stores and grocery stores across the country will be participating in this important event.

Discover the benefits of buying in bulk

Here are the top reasons you should be shopping the bulk aisle:

• Save money -- Buying natural and organic foods in the bulk section of the grocery store offers an average savings of 30 to 50 percent versus packaged food.


• Eco-friendly -- Eliminating packaging reduces carbon footprints. Buying in bulk mitigates the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills and streamlines the transportation needed to deliver goods to market, helping to reduce CO2 emissions.


• Reduce food waste -- Buying in bulk allows shoppers to make smarter decisions, by purchasing the exact amount of foods they need, as opposed to purchasing consumer
  packaged goods with a pre-determined amount that may not be used before its expiration date.


• Flexibility in purchase -- You can buy a pinch or purchase a pound. Buying in bulk offers a broad selection of natural and organic products that can be purchased in the exact quantity desired. If shoppers need a large quantity of nuts for a holiday party or just a pinch of curry powder for a new recipe, bulk foods provide both options.


• Try new good-for-you foods –- If you're bored of your usual brown rice, the bulk foods aisle gives you a plethora of healthy alternatives, such as quinoa, whole wheat couscous, or wheat berries. You can also try new spices, a few pinches at a time, or buy an assortment of dried fruit, raw nuts, and other wholesome ingredients to make your own trail mix or cereal mix-ins. The bulk section is a great place to be creative and experiment.

For more information about the benefits of buying in bulk, please visit www.bulkisgreen.org.

More vegan news you can use!