The Benefits of Buying in Bulk

Recent inflation has most of us in sticker shock, especially at the grocery store. Rising grocery prices can make it more difficult to buy healthy foods and eco-friendly products, and still stay within budget. Consider the many benefits of buying in bulk.

There was a time when buying in bulk was the only way to purchase necessities and other goods. You went to the local supply store with your sacks, jars, and other storage vessels, and bought enough to get you through, until your next trip to the store. Those times may seem old-fashioned today, but they serve as an important model for a healthier, more sustainable future.

With the invention of plastics and preservatives, plus the persuasion of advertising giants, Americans became consumers of convenience. In the flush of the post-WWll economic boom, Americans bought all things quick, easy, pre-mixed, single-serving, and disposable, believing the extra cost of these items was worth the purported extra time the buyer would gain to pursue more important, satisfying, or fun endeavors. Our current environmental situation is just one of the devastating results of that philosophy. 

Buying in bulk means you buy larger quantities at one time. Here’s why you should buy in bulk: more savings, less waste, and preparedness. Let’s examine these benefits in greater detail.

1. Saves you money. Buying in bulk is cost-effective. Here’s where your math skills (or a handy calculator) really pay off! In general, the larger the quantity bought, the cheaper the cost per unit. Sure, your initial investment is greater, but substantial savings are realized over time. 

2. Environmentally friendly. Whether it’s plastic or paper, metal or glass, less packaging generates less waste, and less waste is better for our already-saturated environment. Buying in bulk can also reduce the energy footprint required for creating the packaging because it reduces the amount of materials needed in the first place. 

3. Emergency preparedness. One of the lessons the Covid pandemic taught us is that the supply of many products considered everyday essentials should not to be taken for granted. With supply chains disrupted, items such as toilet paper, household cleaning supplies, as well as food staples, and spices became nearly impossible to find – and outrageously expensive when they were available. You can always have essentials on hand when you buy in bulk.

4. Fewer trips to the store means… less impulse buying! How often do you leave the grocery store with only the items on your list? No matter how hard you try to resist, there’s always something more that catches your eye and find its way into the cart; after all, that’s what grocery stores are designed to do. Also, every shopping foray you don’t have to make means time saved and less polluting fossil fuel used to travel to and fro.

5. Community well-being. When you combine your purchases with others, the benefits of bulk buying increase and spread throughout your community. Team up with family members, neighbors, or friends to purchase larger quantities. More people save money and enjoy an environmentally-sustainable lifestyle.

If you’re serious about saving money, reducing your carbon footprint, and living an environmentally-friendly lifestyle, then you should get serious about shopping bulk products. If you’ve never shopped in bulk before, here are a few tips:

•    Start small. Any new endeavor can seem overwhelming, so start with your basics. For instance, every household uses laundry soap and every business relies on cleaning products.

•    Create a list. What do you use on a regular basis? What items appear on your grocery list every week? Are there seasonal items you want to keep on hand, such as organic pickling salts and spices?

•    Prepare your storage space. Know where you will put your items when they arrive. Do you have storage containers? If you plan to use jars and other containers you’ve saved from previous products, make sure they are safe for their intended next purpose.

•    Team up. One pound of bulk spice or bulk herbal tea may be too much for you, but a buying partner can make the purchase feasible. Keep in mind, though, that you may be quite surprised how much of a particular product you actually use over a few weeks or months!

•    Pay attention to shelf life. Some products do have a shorter shelf life. Consider how much you will actually use before they expire. With the help of your buying partners, share accordingly.

•    Choose your sources carefully. Be sure you are comparing apples to apples. Not all stores or companies offering bulk products are equal. Purchase from reputable sources that do not greenwash their products, business, or business practices. 

•    Enjoy the savings! You will save money; plus, you will help move the economy in an eco-friendlier direction.

At Co-op Marketplace, we make it easy to get started with bulk herbs and spices, bulk home cleaning and laundry supplies. You will also find a nice variety of storage containers to keep your bulk products fresh and safe for an extended time. 

Don’t let shipping costs or delivery charges keep you from buying in bulk; we offer free economy shipping on all orders over $39. 

You can save even more on your bulk orders when you become an Associate Member. The one-time Member’s fee of $10 can be added to your first order and entitles you to 10% off every time you order!