You’ve probably heard that buying in bulk saves you money. You’ve also probably heard/read how buying in bulk doesn’t really save money.
I believe buying in bulk can save you money, only if you plan in advance what you’re buying. It’s easy to go crazy in a warehouse club. My husband and I buy some of our household items in bulk (paper towel, toothpaste, facial tissue, detergents, laundry soap – you get the picture) that we’ll need in the future. Nonperishables, of course.
I tried to look for the environmental policies of the three well-known warehouse clubs – BJ’s Wholesale Club, Sam’s Club and Costco. I only found BJ’s “environmental commitment“.
I couldn’t find anything similar for Sam’s Club and Costco. I did read about Sam’s Club “green” gift cards.
If saving money is not enough to make you bulk in bulk, did you ever think that buying in bulk is also good for the environment? You reduce the packaging materials to be recycled. Places like BJ’s, Sam’s Club and Costco do not use plastic bags. Customers can reuse the boxes and cartons used to transport the items in the warehouse. However, I also have to point out that some items in warehouse clubs are overpackaged. You can buy in bulk, but pay attention to its packaging. I wrote about reducing packaging waste before, so I won’t say it again.