Buying in bulk is good for the environment and your pocketbook.  Health food stores and co-ops usually offer many products in bulk, from spices to dry goods, and even shampoo!  The major chain supermarkets are also getting ‘with it’ and introducing buy in bulk programs.  If your local store has not yet, ask them to do so.  Tell them it’s earth-friendly, and as a customer, that is something you value. 

Bulk items are cheaper than the same item sold in a box or bottle, and you can bring your own container to buy as little or as much as you like. Buying in bulk saves on needless packaging and you can reuse the same container each time you need to buy more.  This keeps all kinds of packaging from going into the dump, and keeps new packaging from being produced, which helps the enviornment and helps prevent global warming. 

 The ‘warehouse stores’, like Costco,  Sam’s Club, and BJs, to name a few, offer almost all items in large quantities, but the items are already packaged and usually have excessive packaging at that, making them environmentally poor choices. Why not help these mass distribution outlets get with the program by suggesting to managers (in person does more than a slip of paper in a suggestion box) that they reduce their excessive packaging to keep your customer loyalty.  Vote with your dollars.