Switching to reusable and refillable packaging has been a game-changer when it comes to reducing packaging waste in our kitchen. But I get that it can be a bit of a mindtangle... it's hard to know where to start and I know I felt a bit awkward the first few times I took my reusables. But once you get the hang of it, I reckon you'll be amazed at how damn good it feels.
Here are just a few of the ways I use reusables:
Takeaways:
For evening meals, we phone ahead and ask if we can BYO containers - and then just make sure we get there 5 mins early to hand them over. Lidded containers are great or sometimes I even use pots! For things like sushi or cafe snacks I'll often just rock up with a plate from the office.
Pantry staples:
I always hit my local bulkstore with a stash of jars, bags, and containers. The first time I went, I just bought one item to get the hang of things - I started with popping corn. Now I refill my own containers with peanut butter, spices, flour, seeds, nuts, pasta, rice, dried fruit, muesli,
kombucha...the list goes on.
Meat:
Our local butchery loves it when we bring our own containers.
Confectionery:
For the kid's birthday parties, I BYO bags for confectionery from supermarket bulk bins.
Cheese:
I go armed with containers to our local farmers market when I need some fancy cheese.
!ce cream:
Yep I even BYO containers to get ice cream sometimes. We have a local shop that does take-home packs of ice cream and they're always happy to serve it in my container instead.
I'm constantly amazed at what I can use my own containers for - it's often just a case of having the conversation (sometimes I feel more comfortable ringing in advance).
Oh and of course, I always make sure my containers are sparkling clean before I hand them over.
If you want a bit of a head start - here are a few handy guides:
A quick video of how to use reusables
The amazing Zero Waste Shopping Guide from the incredible humans at The Rubbish Trip.
The go-to Cafe Guide from the amazing team at UYO - listing cafes all over NZ that welcome reusables.
It doesn't where or how you start with reusables, just pick something and give it a whirl. Why wouldn't you? As my friend Jo said the first time she took her reusable container to get sushi - "it just made me feel really awesome, and now I'm hooked."
