Buying in Bulk – Why It Makes Sense

According to the EPA, around 45% of waste in landfills can be attributed to food packaging and containers.

When you buy food and other products in bulk, you aren’t paying for and contributing to packaging waste. Buying in bulk allows you to get just as much or as little as you need at a great price. No need to worry about food or packaging waste and the food is guaranteed to be fresher. Even if you switch just one of your favorite foods from packaged to bulk, like oats for instance, even that one change would make a big difference in the number of containers you could stop from entering the waste stream.

Buying in bulk is very cost effective and great for shopping on a budget. Take herbs and spices, for example. A .12 oz jar of bay leaves in a regular grocery store costs about $5 vs. buying the same amount of organic bay leaves in our bulk section for only 21¢!

So what should you put your bulk purchases in? Chances are, you already have plenty of jars and containers floating around your kitchen that you can repurpose for your bulk items. Mason jars are great, but old food jars and containers are fine too. Just remember to weigh your containers on the scale in the bulk section and write the weight on it, so your cashier can deduct that weight from your purchase. We also have jars and plastic containers available (that you can reuse,) in case you forget to bring your own. If you’re not sure about how to use the bulk section, just ask one of our friendly staff for advice. They are happy to help!

Here are the foods and products you can purchase in bulk at Oryana

• Trail mixes
• Dried fruit
• Granola/cereals
• Medicinal teas
• Herbs and spices
• Coffee
• Sweeteners
• Salt
• Baking ingredients
• Flours
• Sprouting seeds
• Teas
• Grains
• Rice
• Beans
• Oils/vinegars
• Vanilla
• Snacks
• Nut & seed butters
• Candy
• Nuts/seeds
• Cleaning products
• Soaps/lotions
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Bath salt
• Glycerine
• Laundry soap