Shoppers in Portlaoise will have the opportunity to shop waste free this Friday, as the Eastern Midlands Regional Waste Management Office (EMWR) joins forces with Minimal Waste Grocery to introduce a new concept of shopping – plastic and packaging free.
On Friday September 7, 2018 Jennie Jacques de Cisneros will introduce her Minimal Waste Grocery business to Portlaoise Farmer’s Market for one day only.
The pop-up waste free grocery business will sell everything from pasta to porridge, mouth wash to dental floss, laundry liquid and legumes, all without the need for packaging.
Declan Breen, Waste Prevention Officer with the EMWR which is supporting a minimal waste grocery tour throughout the region, said Minimal Waste Grocery shopping highlights the amount of unnecessary packaging that makes up most of our weekly grocery shop.
“There is so much excessive packaging, and in particular plastic packaging, involved in our weekly shop that leads to unnecessary waste. This excessive packaging is costly to the environment and the consumer, so reducing it makes both environmental and economical sense,” he said.
“We have received numerous questions from consumers on how to reduce the amount of packaging involved in the weekly shop. Minimal Waste Grocery is a great way of achieving that goal.
“We would like to see even more retail businesses, and in particular our larger supermarkets, also take a lead from Minimal Waste Grocery and give consumers what they want by eliminating unnecessary packaging.”
“In the meantime I would encourage shoppers in Portlaoise to check out the Minimal Waste Grocery at the Portlaoise Farmer’s Market on Friday, where they will get plenty of ideas on how to reduce packaging. The EMWR is hopeful that this tour will get people thinking about the way they shop and be more conscious of excess packaging,” added Mr Breen.
Jennie Jacques de Cisneros set up Minimal Waste Grocery in June 2017, providing plastic free solutions to everyday essentials.
“I was irritated by the amount of packaging forced upon me every week as part of my grocery shop. I went looking for an alternative way to shop and when it wasn’t available I set up Minimal Waste Grocery,” she said.
“With Minimal Waste Grocery you bring your own jars or containers and we fill them with what every you require. You buy as little or as much as you need and are not constrained by package size, therefore minimising food wastage.
“It is more economical to shop this way as you buy only what you need and without packaging and branding you are keeping costs down. Also when you shop this way you are not contributing any more plastic to the world.”
Jennie can also provide free sterilised recycled jars to customers who may not have sufficient jars or containers for their shopping.
People can also shop at the Minimal Waste Grocery by logging on to minimalwastegrocery.com with deliveries made nationwide.
Meanwhile more information on how to minimise everyday waste can be found on www.emwr.ie
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