I’ve been part of this forum long enough to notice that a lot of people advocate for “low waste” food choices, like bulk bins, farmers’ markets, and glass jars for storage. But I have to question whether this actually makes much of a dent in the grand scheme of things.
For example:
- Bulk shops near me still get their products in plastic before dumping them into bins.
- Produce from farmers’ markets is still often packed in plastic for transport to the venue.
- Hauling glass jars everywhere sounds sustainable, but what about the energy used to make and transport glass-which is heavier and more resource intensive than plastic?
Are we just putting a green spin on regular consumerism and spending extra effort on swaps that don’t have a real impact? How much of the “low waste” food movement is actually reducing waste, and how much is just feel-good marketing? What alternatives (if any) genuinely move the needle? Would love to see some numbers or studies instead of just anecdotes.