I've been trying to adopt a more zero waste lifestyle for the past six months, focusing mainly on the kitchen, but I've hit a real wall with packaging from online orders. I need to buy specific supplements and specialty flours that aren't available locally in bulk, and everything arrives wrapped in layers of plastic. I feel like I'm just shifting the waste from my bin to somewhere else. Has anyone else dealing with dietary restrictions or specific health needs found a reliable way to source these kinds of products without all the disposable packaging? I'd love to hear about any shops or subscription services that actually deliver on this promise.
For specialty flours, I started looking at small milling shops that ship in paper bags. It’s slower and pricier, but I’ve found it cuts down on plastic a lot. Might be regional, though.
Which region are you ordering from? If you share where you are, I can point you to a couple of shops that actually do try to ship with less plastic.
Ugh, that packaging pile is relentless. A quick email or chat with a brand sometimes helps—they'll point you to the minimal-pack options or a recyclable alternative.
I hear the zero-waste goal, but sometimes the reality of dietary needs means packaging is built-in for safety and shelf life. Maybe the aim should be low-waste or trackable packaging rather than zero at all costs.
I’m not an expert, but for supplements I’ve had better luck with a couple of brands that offer bulk options or let you send your own containers. It’s a bit of a run-around, but doable if you’re persistent.
I’ve also kept an eye on co-ops or bulk-food stores that ship in cardboard or compostable mailers, and a few subscription-type services that promise recyclable packaging. It’s not perfect, and you often have to combine several sources to cover everything, but consolidating orders can cut total waste. I still need to plan ahead to avoid multiple shipments.