Tired of flimsy plastic bags of beans, rice & quinoa in your cupboard? How can you make your grocery trip even greener? Buy in bulk!

Those “bulk” bins in Whole Foods, Essene, Wegmans & more have plastic bags for you to fill up with… Instead, bring your own glass, aluminum or steel container. Simply go to the Customer Service desk and ask them to weigh your empty container. They can then subtract the weight when they weigh your bulk goods at checkout.

Readers, what do you buy in bulk? Any good secret finds in Philadelphia we should know about?

Photo: Whole Foods

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Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia. View all posts by Julie Hancher