I dont shop in supermarkets much but then I have the luxury of time, I work from home and I have a great parade of local shops just close to where I live.Others are not be so lucky and so might despair of living a plastic free life. After all supermarkets are super keen on packaging.
Hooray then for Louise Bayfield and her “POSTIVE PRODUCTS LIST (UK) a list of High Street and Supermar-ket products that have no packaging or in some way help reduce packaging.”
Shopping Tips
If you want to buy loose you will need to take your own reusable packaging – produce bags, tupperware even compostable disposables. You can find them here.
For the plastic free freak metal lids to glass jars are of course plastic lined .
Tin and cans including those for cosmetics are also plastic lined
For products that are packaged in plastic choose to buy simple plastics that can easily be recycled
Links are to my posts on the subject.
Do remember not all stores stock all products. It might be wise to check ahead if you are making a special visit.
The List
The original PDF will be updated as Lyn shops around so do check back there for updates.
Once again thank you Lyn for such a fantastic resource!
And so onto the list
Widely Available At Most Supermarkets
Bread Mixes – Paper
Ecover Laundry Powder – Cardboard, no scoop
Fruit and Vegetables – Bulk, take your own bags
Instore Butcher, Deli, Fish Counters and Bakery- Bulk, take bags and containers
Flour, Sugar, Eggs and Oats – Almost always available in paper or card
Frozen Produce in Cardboard – Linda McCartney, Fish (MSC), Potato Waffles Shake box to check there’s no plastic inside
Pasta and Rice in 3KG-10kg bags – Choose plastic (not film), reuse or recycle at Sainsbury’s. See some notes about which plastic is best, here.
Soap Bars – Paper or cardboard
Twinings Tea bags in biodegradable plastic (but the teabags contain plastic)
Aldi
Ale and Cider, excellent value selection of British brewed drinks in glass
Cake and bread mix – Paper
Fruit and Vegetables – Selection very limited
Oats – Paper
Rapeseed Oil, British, cold-pressed – Glass, foil and metal cap
ASDA
Cake Mix, Wright’s – Paper
Coconut Oil – Glass and metal
Cornflour, Brown and Polson – Cardboard, I believe this may be bagless inside
Coffee, instant, extra large sizes – Various packaging
Double Edge Razor Blades 10’s – Cardboard and small plastic cover
Ecover Washing Powder – Cardboard, no scoop
Fruit and Vegetables – Currently the largest selection of loose produce
Fish Fingers, Birds Eye 30 MSC – Big pack to save on packaging – Cardboard
Gram Flour – Paper
Laundry Stain Removal Soap Bar – Cardboard
Oats – Several Brands – Cardboard
Pasta, Fusilli 3kg – Plastic, recycle at Sainsbury’s
Pizza bar – Larger stores – Has anyone tried to buy one of these unwrapped yet?
Rice, Various 4 – 10kg bags, biggest selection – Various packaging
Spices, fresh garlic, ginger and chili – Bulk
Washing-up Eco Liquid, ASDA Own Brand 1litre – Plastic but larger than most, great value
World Foods – Always a few unexpected surprises in this department, please let me know what you find.
Boots
BecoThings Potty and Step stool, reusable – Biodegradable and cardboard packaging
Boltanics Toiletry Range – Organic, midrange – Some items in glass with plastic tops
Bath Salts – Cardboard
Burt’s Bees – Some products in Glass with metal lids and tins
Double Edge Razor Blades 10’s– Cardboard and small plastic cover
Essential Oils – Glass – Various tops
Lip Tins – Metal
Mooncup – Cardboard
Nivea Creme – Tin
Naty by Nature Nappies – Biodegradable
Origins Toiletry Range, plant based and free from lots of nasties – A few glass items – Pricey
Reusable nappies and supplies
Wooden Handled Brushes with FSC mark, Boltanics and Ecotool range for Make-up and hair – Packaging unknown
Co-op
Bread and Cake mixes – Paper – Really good selection in some larger stores
Costco / Cash and Carry
Save on waste buy buying big packs – Business Customers only
Homesence
Castile Soap, Larger bottles – Packaging varies but mostly plastic
Shampoo/conditioner/shower gel/ Bath – Very large bottles, sometimes organic and glass packaging
Soap Bars, sometimes organic- Beautifully wrapped in paper/card – Good gifts
Candles – Often votives in glass or metal tins with no packaging or cardboard box
Glassware – Recycled water glasses and sometimes goblets, No packaging other than a small sticker to base.
Many home items are unpackaged other than a price sticker. Some items are surplus. A good place to look for
Zero Waste Kitchenalia – Glass Jars, Stainless Steel Water Bottles, Insulated Travel Mugs, Tea strainers/Infusers,
Reusable Silicone Bakeware, Wooden Brushes, Scrubbers, Coffee presses, Wooden Boards, Wooden Bowls etc…
Some will be in cardboard or unpackaged with sticker.
Iceland
Has anyone ever ventured in?
Ikea
Crisp breads – Paper
Kilner style Jars – Good value – Paper and sticker
Loose sweets pick & mix stall with paper bags
Lidl
Butter – Paper
Bread, loaves and rolls – Bulk from Bakery – Very good selection
Breadcrumbs – Cardboard – Can anyone confirm there is no bag inside?
Bread Mixes, various larger bags – Paper
Cake Mixes, various – Paper – Seasonal item not always in stock
Cornflour – Cardboard – Can anyone confirm that there is no bag inside?
Doughnuts – Bulk from Bakery
Feta – Glass Jar
Fish Fingers and battered fish, MSC – Cardboard
Fruit and Vegetables – Reasonable selection of loose produce
Nuts, salted cashews, pistachios – Bulk bins – Take very light weight bags as no tare
Oats – Paper – Excellent value
Pastries, Croissants, Pain Au Choc and various Danishes – Bulk from Bakery
Pizza Slices – Bulk from Bakery
Rice, white – Cardboard
Salt – Cardboard
Washing powder, non-bio – Cardboard – No plastic scoop
Lush
Bath bombs and fizzers – Bulk
Hair dye blocks, Henna/Indigo – Several shades – Bulk
Toothie Tabs – Cardboard
Soap – Bulk
Shampoo and Conditioner bars – Bulk
Most other products are in recyclable pots – return to store for free product
M&S
Herbs and spices – Glass with metal lids
Knickers
Morrisons
Cake Mix, Wright’s – Paper
Fish Fingers, Birds Eye 30 MSC – Big pack to save on packaging – Cardboard
Oats – Quaker, Scots Porridge and Own brand – Cardboard
Spices, fresh ginger, chili and garlic – Bulk
Neal’s Yard
Various organic toiletries in returnable glass. Can be pricey.
L’Occitane
Organic beauty and toiletries, some in glass. Aspirational prices.
Ocado
Cake Mix, Wright’s – Paper
You cleaner refills – A concentrated eco cleaner in small plastic bottles
Poundland
Selection of glass kilner style jars – great for those on a budget
String
Robert Dyas
Borax Substitute, Dri-pac – Cardboard
Sainsbury’s
Butter, farmhouse, located near deli – Paper
Baking Powder, sachets – Paper and cardboard
Bicarbonate of Soda, sachets – Can anyone confirm packaging?
Berries, Frozen Basics – Plastic bag only – Return to store
Cake Mix, Wright’s – Paper
Cat Litter, Bio catolet – Litter and packaging have green credentials
Dishwasher Powder – Cardboard with small metal pourer – Works well in smaller quantities
Ecover Washing Powder – Large boxes – Cardboard
Fish Fingers, Birds Eye 30 MSC – Big pack to save on packaging – Cardboard
Lasagne Sheets, Basics – Windowless Cardboard
Naty Nature Care Nappies – Biodegradable
Oats, Quaker and Flahavan’s – Cardboard / Paper
Pizza Bar – Larger Stores – Has anyone brought one unwrapped yet?
Double Edge Razor Blades 10’s– Cardboard and small plastic cover
Soap Bars, various including organic – Cardboard
Spaghetti 3kg – Plastic – Can be brought back to store for recycling
Toilet Paper, 100% recycled, 6 space saving rolls – Plastic wrap can be recycled in store
Vinegar, Sarson’s distilled White 568ml – Glass bottle, plastic cap
Washing Powder, Own Brand – Cardboard – no plastic scoop
Plastic bag recycling bins in store entrance – Sainsbury’s products with this type of packaging are clearly marked.
Any brands can be deposited but check they are plastic and not film. As a rule film cleanly tears and is louder
when crunched, plastic is softer and stretches when pulled.
Staples
Toilet Tissue, Maxima – 100% recycled – Large cardboard box, no inner tubes
Toilet Rolls, 8 pack – 100% recycled – Plastic wrap, recycle at Sainsbury’s
Envelopes, various sizes, business size bulk packs – 100% recycled – Cardboard box
Tea and Coffee – Huge catering size packs, various packaging, shake box to check there’s no plastic inside
Tesco
Bath Salts, Radox – Cardboard
Coffee Beans, Lavazza 1kg – Usual non-recyclable packaging, largest available
Double Edge Razor Blades 10’s– Cardboard and small plastic cover
Ecover Washing Powder – Cardboard, no scoop
Fish Fingers, Birds Eye 30 MSC – Big pack to save on packaging – Cardboard
Cat litter, Sanicat Eco – I believe this is in a paper bag
Olive Oil, Il Casolare – Flip top glass bottle, reusable?
Tea Bags Miles West Country Tea – Paper bag, can anyone confirm that this is not laminated?
Wilcos
Bicarbonate of Soda, large crystals – Cardboard
Borax Substitute – Cardboard
Waitrose
Bakery, rolls, cakes, fancy cakes and childrens decorated biscuits – Bulk
Butter, British – Paper
Borax Substitute, Dri-pac – Cardboard – Larger stores only
Bread Mix, good selection – Paper
Cat Litter, Waitrose wood pellets – Recycled wood and paper packaging
Coconut Oil, Groovy Food, Organic – Glass Metal
Coffee – Free with my Waitrose card – Take own cup
Dishwasher Powder – Cardboard
Fish Fingers, Birds Eye 30 MSC – Big pack to save on packaging – Cardboard
Juice Bar – Could ask for a refill ? – Not available in all stores
Neal’s Yard Products – Glass can be returned to Neal’s Yard shops for refund
Naty Nature Care Nappies – Biodegradable
Oats – Flahavan’s, Mornflake, Quaker – Paper and cardboard
Soap Bars – Including organic – Paper and Cardboard
Toilet Rolls, 9 pack, 100% recycled – Plastic wrap (recycle at Sainsbury’s)
Vinegar, Sarson’s distilled White 568ml – Glass Bottle
YOU cleaner refills – A concentrated eco cleaner refill in plastic