Eco -friendly bulk food merchandising at grocery stores and co-ops are beneficial to retailers, shoppers and the planet. Innovative solutions from Trade Fixtures can help create an easy-to-shop, visually appealing and profit-friendly bulk food department that can attract more loyal customers. See how offering a new bulk food department at your store can make your store more eco-friendly and reduce your carbon footprint.
Produces Less Plastic Waste
Single-use plastics are everywhere. And while they are single-use for consumers, they can take 20-500 years to decompose. And decomposition doesn’t mean gone, it means smaller, which leads to microplastics in our water soil and bodies. While most micro and nanoplastics can pass through the human body, they have been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular problems and strokes. Bulk food merchandising encourages shoppers to BYOC (bring your own container), which can be reused again and again. As an alternative, shoppers can choose store-provided containers that are made from recycled paper or plastic and save 3x the plastic waste when compared to pre-packaged options.
Source More Local Foods
Health and environmentally conscious consumers like to shop local. With bulk food merchandising, grocery stores can offer fresh local favorites giving that farmers market feel. By choosing local, stores can reduce transportation costs and their carbon footprint while attracting more loyal customers. Bulk local foods require less packaging and can be packed densely into trucks reducing LTL costs.
Reduce Food Waste
Why buy a pound when you need one cup? The U.S. produces 60 million tons of food waste each year—more than any other country in the world. This food often goes straight to the landfill where it makes up 22% of all municipal solid waste (MSW). And much of this waste comes from buying more food than you need.
Bulk merchandising allows shoppers to buy only what they need, which reduces food waste and saves shoppers money (30-60%). Even though shoppers spend less, grocers can still make more as bulk foods offer a higher profit margin compared to prepackaged foods.
Stakeholders know that your business is inseparable from the environment it operates in and the society it serves. They expect your company’s actions to align with their ESG priorities and need proof that you can meet the moment now, with more equity, transparency and trust. More sustainable business practices aren’t just right for business—they’re smart for businesses. And your customers are paying attention.
Bulk merchandising solutions from Trade Fixtures are sustainable as well. Made using high-impact, BPA-free Tritan™ plastic, dispensers and bins can outlast heavy usage and bumps and drops that may occur during the filling process. They can also be placed in the dishwasher for more efficient, water-saving cleaning. Adding bulk food merchandising to your store is beneficial to the consumer, the retailer and the world. Find the right fit for your store by browsing our catalog or contacting our team for a quote.