Earlier this year, “06880” introduced Sustainable Westport’s newest project: “UnPlastic Westport.”
The initiative aims to reduce single-use plastics, and expand water-filling stations around town. The goal is to “turn shared intention into measurable, community-wide change.”
Once a month, we help them highlight an area of daily life where single-use plastic is most common, along with practical ideas to use. This month, we focus on a topic we all relate to: groceries.
Grocery runs are unglamorous. We do them often — and often without thinking.
But think about this: A surprising amount of what ends up in the cart is wrapped in plastic that did not need to be there.
To help Westporters cut down on the plastic entering their home, Sustainable Westport has released its UnPlastic Your Groceries guide. We break the store down, to show where the easiest swaps are.
Be a smart shopper!
One resident shows what that looks like in practice.
Sustainable Westport’s Gretchen Hoffmann took a camera along on a regular grocery trip. She walked aisle by aisle, pointing out plenty of plastic-free choices. Click here to see.
The UnPlastic Your Groceries guide lays out the specifics:
Produce: Choose loose fruits and vegetables over the pre-bagged multi-pack whenever there’s a choice. Skip the produce bag entirely for anything with a peel, like oranges or avocados. Or use your own reusable produce bags as needed.
Bulk Bins: Both the Westport Whole Foods and Fresh Market stock bulk bins for grains, nuts, snacks and more. Bring your own container, weigh it at customer service, and skip the packaging altogether.
Buy in bulk!
Butcher & Seafood Counter: A simple ask (paper instead of the pre-packaged plastic tray) that most counters are happy to accommodate, even if it’s not posted anywhere. Some stores only have the plastic-wrapped options, so make the best choice you can.
Condiments: Ketchup, mustard, mayo and others all come in glass as well as plastic. They’re usually on the same shelf — at a similar price.
None of this requires a special trip or specific store. It’s the same cart, same list — just a slightly different choice at each stop.
Every individual swap is minor on its own — one glass jar instead of plastic, one loose pepper instead of a bagged 3-pack.
But multiplied across carts, over months, across a town, it adds up to something bigger than waste reduction.
It’s a signal to local stores about what Westporters actually want on the shelf. That’s part of what shapes what gets stocked here in the first place.
To see Gretchen’s full grocery trip, follow along on Instagram: @sustainablewestport.
For the complete aisle-by-aisle breakdown, along with product recommendations for bulk shopping, produce bags and pantry staples, visit the full UnPlastic Your Groceries guide on Sustainable Westport’s site.
(UnPlastic Westport is Sustainable Westport’s community-wide initiative to reduce our use of plastics, especially single-use plastics, and expand public water-filling stations throughout town.
(In 2026, the team’s goal is to turn shared intention into measurable, community-wide change. Plastic affects our health, our environment, and communities far beyond our borders, and recycling alone is not solving the problem. That’s why UnPlastic Westport focuses on reducing plastic at the source through education, practical swaps, and collective action. Follow along on Instagram (@sustainablewestport) or sign up for their newsletter for more tips.)
(“06880” keeps an eye on Westport’s environment — and every other part of town. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)