If you’re looking to lower your grocery footprint, head to these zero-waste stores for all your food, home, and beauty shopping needs.
Zero-waste. Plastic-free. Minimalist. Environmentally aware. Whatever your eco-conscious grocery shopping needs, these bulk stores in Los Angeles can make them happen. From home and beauty products to grains and beans, you are sure to find what you need.
What Is Zero-Waste Living?
Zero-waste living is an effort to create less waste by reusing, rethinking, and repurposing. It’s a great tool to utilize, especially if you suffer from climate anxiety. Because, while many environmental issues are out of your control, only you decide how best to use your dollar. So how do you get started living more lightly on the planet? Well, we like to go by the words of generations who came before us. Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without. That said, one strategy is to shop in bulk stores throughout Los Angeles. This will help you avoid excess packaging while picking up daily needs.
Why Go Plastic-Free?
Why go plastic-free? Because single-use plastics pose a serious threat to our planet, wildlife, and human health. These plastics take hundreds of years to decompose. We are talking bags, beauty containers, and bottles from bath and body products. Think shampoo, shower gel, and deodorant. Often, the plastics break down futher into smaller pieces called microplastics. We have all seen the pictures showing the dangers microplastics pose to our oceans and aquatic life. But new research suggests microplastics may also pose a threat to human health. These environmental hazards may contribute to a number of chronic diseases, including heart attack and stroke.
How to Shop Bulk Stores in LA
While bulk stores mostly have the same general mission—Save the Planet!—they are not all created alike. Some are stocked similarly to your local food market. Others focus mostly on bath and beauty products. And they all have their own shopping “rules.” So let us help you with the research. Here’s our list of bulk stores in Los Angeles, what they carry, and how to shop them. And, hey, thanks for doing your part to save the planet.
re_grocery
Mar Vista, Studio City, & Highland Park
Grab your reusable bags. It’s time to get shopping! At re_grocery you have options. If you are trying to go low-plastic, this is the place to be. From dish soap and laundry powder to couscous, rice, and rotini, this bulk store in Los Angeles has what you need. But what about bath and body, beauty, and dental hygiene products? Yep, they’ve got ‘em! Just bring your own clean, dry, empty containers from home. Or choose to purchase the store’s post-consumer recycled paper bags or reusable glass jars and bottles. You will also find plastic-free and zero-waste accessories. Examples include Swedish dishcloths, natural dish brushes, and stainless steel sandwich tins. Look for this eco-friendly spot in Mar Vista, Studio City, and Highland Park.
Courtesy of re_grocery
The Well Refill
Topanga
At The Well Refill, you will find a variety of unpackaged items. These range from personal care and cleaning supplies to DIY home and beauty ingredients. We are talking everything from body soaks and face cream to toilet bombs and cleaning scrubs. The Well also offers a selection of prepackaged, low-waste products. Think plastic-free deodorant, bamboo bandages, and reusable menstrual cups. Stock up on package-free shampoo and conditioner bars, vinegar, shea butter, Epsom salts, and more. Just bring in your own clean containers to get started. And don’t miss their collection of low-waste tools and accessories, as well as the small collection of second-hand goods.
Courtesy of The Well Refill
Prostainable
Granada Hills
With plastic-free shipping and in-store pickup, Prostainable offers flexible shopping options for your schedule. You will find refillable products as well as reusable, compostable, and plastic-free items. From handmade soap and toilet tablets to shampoo and conditioning bars, this market helps you keep your home stocked. Prostainable also carries zero-waste accessories like stainless steel meal storage containers, reusable silicone jar lids, glass drinking straws, and more. Start your low-plastic journey with their plastic-free dental floss from Hüppy. Or switch out your traditional q-tips for bamboo cotton swabs. This spot also offers a selection of DIY classes to help you on your sustainability venture.
Courtesy of Prostainable
Sustain LA
Highland Park
Highland Park hosts the next bulk store in Los Angeles on our list. If you’re looking to reduce your household waste, Sustain LA encourages you to rethink the concept of convenience. In addition to their plastic-free refill station, they also offer zero-waste education. From in-home consultations to help you customize your zero-waste journey to large-event zero-waste support, Sustain LA works to protect our planet. Shop their Refill Station, the first such site launched for home products and body care in Los Angeles. Simply order online for curbside pickup! Your products will be packaged in returnable, reusable bottles. Or choose to shop in-store. You will find everything from coffee and tea to all-purpose cleaners, body lotion, and more.
Courtesy of Sustain LA
Sun Moon Rain
Santa Monica
Sun Moon Rain intends to do their part to clean up the planet by quashing single-plastic use and plastic waste. The store offers a small, carefully curated selection of bulk items for your home and beauty needs. Shop everything from toothpaste tablets to liquid laundry soap and more. You will also find a selection of zero-waste accessories such as bamboo toothbrushes, refillable empty growler bottles, and beyond. Additionally, they stock a small amount of personal care needs in plastic-free packaging. These include shampoo and conditioning bars, mascara, and eyebrow wax, among others. From upcycled intentional jewelry to reusable cotton and jute tote bags, Sun Moon Rain is the spot to shop.
Courtesy of Sun Moon Rain
Co-opportunity
Santa Monica
Let’s talk food. Consider Co-opportunity your new favorite bulk store in Los Angeles. This Santa Monica gem offers everything from beans to grains. With an extensive bulk department, they make your grocery shopping easy. Choose curbside pickup or delivery through Instacart or shop in-store. You will find organic, gluten-free, and raw options that are locally sourced and fairly traded. The store stocks nut butters, baking needs, granolas, spices, coffee, and more. The member-owned co-op is LA’s only organic food cooperative open to the public. Get your shopping list ready, then head to this Green Business-certified sustainable bulk store. Feel good about supporting a company that partners with FoodCycle LA to fight food insecurity and reduce food waste.
Courtesy of Co-opportunity
Square One Refills and Sustainable Supplies
Santa Monica
Plastic-free is the way to be at Square One Refills and Sustainable Supplies. Everything at Square One comes in reusable or biodegradable packaging. Shop a limited refill selection of zero-waste home and body care products, including Citrus Shampoo & Body Wash, Antioxidant Cream, Vitamin C Facial Serum, and more. All refill products are vegan, sulfate-free, paraben-free, and contain no phthalates. You will also find other zero-waste-friendly items. These include bar soap, deodorant bars, organic cotton makeup rounds, and hand wash in reusable stainless steel bottles. Square One also stocks a selection of travel-size personal care products in TSA-size-friendly stainless steel containers.
Courtesy of No Tox Life
Whole Foods Market
Multiple Locations
You like them for their TTLA (tempeh bacon, tomato, lettuce, and avocado vegan sandwich). You love them for their extensive line of bulk food products. This grocery market favorite offers a variety of planet-friendly items. From dried fruits, seeds, and pasta to nuts, flours, and beans, you are sure to find what you need. Create your own cereals, granolas, trail mixes, and soup blends. Or pick them up ready-made! Throughout the store, you will also find other bulk options such as nut butters, prepared foods, bread, and beyond. Additionally, this certified organic grocery is committed to responsible sourcing and community giving. And they ban over 300 not-good-for-you, not-good-for-the-planet food ingredients storewide.
Courtesy of Whole Foods Market
