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It’s seriously time to break up with packaging. It’s unnecessary, wasteful and there are now so many packaging-free shops that you actually can live without it. When we realised how many zero-waste bulk buy shops had popped up across Asia, we knew we had to create a dedicated guide, so no matter where you are in the region, your food shopping routine can be totally packaging-free! Below is our round-up of the best low impact bulk food shops in Asia, so even when you’re traveling, you can live la vida bulk. Happy glass jar shopping!
Hong Kong
Live Zero
Live Zero is Hong Kong’s first 100% zero-waste, packaging-free bulk grocery store. Located on Sai Ying Pun’s High Street, the store is split into two sections – Bulk Foods and Bulk Beauty. There is pretty much nothing they don’t have, from every type of pantry ingredient to snacks, vegan protein powder and even packaging-free Beyond Burger patties and other plant-based meat alternatives.
Address Sai Ying Pun: Live Zero, 33 High Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong. Open Monday – Saturday: 11.00am – 8.00pm; Sunday: 11.00am – 6.00pm.
Address Sai Kung: Live Zero, 5 Tak Lung Back Street, Sai Kung, Hong Kong. Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday: 10:00am – 7pm; Sunday and Public Holidays: 10:00am – 6pm; Closed Tuesday & Wednesday.
Edgar
Edgar is also one of the first bulk grocery shops in Hong Kong. With many stocking bins full of freeze dried fruit and vegetables for snacking (including okra and mushrooms!), organic and fair trade certified chocolates, cookies and kitchen staples – you will find almost everything you need here.
Address: Edgar, 5 Moon Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Open Monday – Saturday: 12.00 noon – 7.00pm; Sunday: 12.00 noon – 6.00pm.
Slowood
Slowood is the newcomer to Hong Kong’s bulk grocery scene. They have a massive space full of bulk bins, refill stations and fresh natural foods as well as loads of household products and a range of lifestyle goods too.
Address Kennedy Town: Slowood, The Hudson, 11 Davis Street, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong. Open daily: 10.00am – 10.00pm.
Address Discovery Bay: Slowood, Shop Unit 151, 1/F, DB Plaza (Block C) Discovery Bay. Open daily: 10.00am – 10.00pm.
SEED
SEED is Sai Kung’s bulk food shop and zero-waste lifestyle boutique store. They have pantry goods, household cleaning products, beauty and personal care items and baby goods.
Address: SEED, 29 Yee Kuk Street, Sai Kung, Hong Kong. Open Tuesday – Sunday: 10.00am – 7.00pm.
Lively Life
Lively Life is a small retail shop with a location in Wan Chai’s busy Hennessy Road. They have a variety of organic and fair trade items on offer to stock up your kitchens and office pantries.
Address: Lively Life, UG, Shop 6, 302-308 Hennessy Road, CC Wu Building, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Open daily: 10.00am – 7.30pm.
The Bulk Shop By Margella
The Bulk Shop by Margella HK is the newest kid in town and the first bulk shop in Tai Po. Opening in Summer 2020, The Bulk Shop is working on the finishing touches to offer the New Territories a new chance of going plastic-free.
Address: The Bulk Shop, 25-28, Level 2, Jade Plaza, 3 On Chee Road, Tai Po, Hong Kong. Open Mon-Sat: 11.00am – 6.00pm.
Savonnezero
Billed as Kowloon’s first naked store and a newer addition to Hong Kong’s zero waste scene, Savonnezero store focuses on freshly made beauty and body products available for bulk purchase without packaging including cleansing oils, face masks, repair creams, lip balms, hair repair and more.
1109, Kimberland Centre, 55 Wing Hong Street, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, hello@savonnez.co. Open Wed-Mon.
Pimary
Pimary is mostly a reusables and eco-lifestyle retail concept but they also have a selection of bulk household cleaning supplies so you can stock up on floor cleaner, multi-purpose and the like.
Pimary Tai Po Concept Store, 25 Lo Tsz Tin Tsuen, Ting Kok Road, Tai Po. Open Monday, Thursday and Friday: 12:00pm – 6pm; Saturday & Sunday: 11:00am – 7pm.
Pimary The Mills Store, Shop 105, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan, info@pimaryhk.com. Open daily: 12:00pm – 7pm.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The Hive Bulk Foods
The Hive is Malaysia’s number one and most established zero-waste retailer and bulk food grocer, founded by arguably Asia’s first zero waste queen, Claire Sancelot. They have over five locations and 3 stop-off points spread across Kuala Lumpur.
The Hive Bulk Foods is in five locations across Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Open daily: 9.00am – 7.00pm.
A Bit Less Bulk Store
A Bit Less Bulk Store is full of dry natural foods, vegetables, grains, beans – most of which are organically sourced. They also have various snacks (popcorn, dark chocolate, chocolate balls) and even kombucha on tap!
Address: A Bit Less Bulk Store, 20 Jalan Ambong 4, Kepong Baru, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Open weekdays (except Wednesday): 11.00am – 7.00pm, weekends: 10.00am – 6.00pm.
Singapore
The Source Bulk Foods
Australia’s largest zero-waste bulk foods retailer landed in Singapore recently. The first Singaporean outlet of The Source is located in Cluny Court, and is completely packaging-free and stocked with over 350 pantry staples, whole foods, snacks, treats and household products.
Address: 501 Bukit Timah Road, 1-5a Cluny Court, Singapore. Open daily: 9.00am – 8.00pm.
UnPackt.SG
UnPackt is a homegrown social enterprise in Singapore on a mission to green the city with their zero-waste products and bulk food offerings. They also have a small cafe with many vegan-friendly offerings. UnPackt has two outlets in the city.
Address: UnPackt, 6 Jalan Kuras, Singapore, Open daily: 10.00am – 8.00pm. UnPackt (2nd Location), 6A, Shenton Way, 3-5 Downtown Gallery, Singapore, Open Weekdays: 11.00am – 8.00pm; Weekends: 10.00am – 6.00pm.
Scoop Wholefoods
Scoop Wholefoods is located inside Tanglin Mall, near Orchard Road in the heart of Singapore. They have on offer raw, organic and natural whole foods at good prices. Most of their products are sourced from certified Australian and New Zealand suppliers.
Address: Scoop Wholefoods, Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road, Singapore. Open daily: 10.00am – 7.00pm.
Taipei, Taiwan
Unpackaged.U
Unpackaged.U is a bulk buy food store in New Taipei City, stocked full with many of the common Asian grains and superfoods, baking ingredients, as well as snacks. They also strive to have in bulk as many organic ingredients as possible.
Address: Unpackaged.U, 16 Guiyang Street, Sanchong District, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Open Tuesday – Sunday: 11.00am – 9.00pm.
Manila, Philippines
Humble Market
Humble Market is Manila’s go-to destination offering wellness and sustainable living products, and is also a bulk-buy food market with all the common health foods and staple goods you need. They have two locations, one in Mandaluyong and the other in Muntinlupa.
Address: Humble Market, YDG Coffee, G/F, Mandala Park, Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines. Group & Boiler, G/F Molito Complex, Madrigal Avenue, Muntinlupa City, Manila, Philippines. Open daily: 8.00am – 10.00pm.
Ritual
Ritual is a plastic-free bulk foods store where you can get all your main cooking ingredients, like sugar, sea salt, cacao nibs, fruit wines, coffee, and more. You can also order online, then pick up at their store!
Address: Ritual, 2/F, Languages International Building, 926 Arnaiz Avenue, Makati, Manila, Philippines. Open Tuesday – Saturday: 11.00am – 8.00pm.
Croft Bulk Foods
Specialising in zero-waste plant-based foods, Croft Bulk Foods is a go-to for sustainable vegan shopping. This concept was opened by the restauranteurs behind The Vegan Dinosaur, a plant-based eatery in Davao City. This is the best place to go if you’re looking for healthy superfoods – think goji berries, almonds, cacao nibs.
Address: Croft Bulk Foods, Unit 6A, Paseo Uno Building, Ruby Street Corner Opal Street Marfori Heights, Davao City, Manila, Philippines. Open daily: 8.00am – 9.00pm.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tap Hoá Lá Xanh – A Zero Waste Shop
Tap Hoá Lá Xanh is a great refill station in the heart of the Vietnamese capital. They are well stocked with rice, pasta, flour, sugar, sesame oil, coconut oil and many more. They even have homemade peanut butter available for you to buy packaging-free!
Address: 32 Huynh Tinh Cua, Ward 8, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Open daily: 10.00am – 6.00pm.
Hanoi, Vietnam
Zero Waste Hanoi
Zero Waste Hanoi was founded in 2018 to close the gap in the zero-waste and organic food market in the city. They have everything for a sustainable food shop – over 200 items available from nuts to beans, lentils, oils and and teas.
Address: Zero Waste Hanoi, 10 Ngo 192/66, Pho Le Trong Tan, Quan Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Go Eco Hanoi
Go Eco Hanoi was the first zero-waste shop in Hanoi, and they have a large range of food items for bulk buy. All your thai spices can definitely be found here, packaging-free of course!
Address: Go Eco Hanoi, So 30 Tang Bat Ho, Pham Dinh Ho, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi, Vietnam. Open daily: 9.00am – 9.00pm.
Bangkok, Thailand
Refill Station
Thailand’s first zero-waste bulk store selling eco-friendly products, Refill Station is a well-known packaging free stopover in Bangkok. You’ll find here most of your kitchen staples, as well as lifestyle and homeware goods.
Address: 2031 Sukhumvit Rd, Khwaeng Phra Khanong Nuea, Wattana, Bangkok, Thailand. Open daily: 8.00am – 9.30pm.
Bali, Indonesia
Zero Waste Kerobokan
Zero Waste Bulk Food Store Kerobokan is well stocked with all the superfoods, health products and kitchen staples. They also have a good range of natural and plastic-free household and beauty items, including DIY-deodorant and cleaning products.
Address: Jl. Raya Anyar, 30 Kerobokan, Kec Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali, Indonesia. Open Monday – Saturday: 9.00am – 6.00pm; Sunday: 12.00 noon – 6.00pm.
Bali Buda
Bali Buda is a restaurant, but they do also have a bulk food corner in the back of their space. All you have to do is to bring along a reusable bag, jars and boxes, and fill up! They have 2 larger locations, and one smaller shop.
Address: Bali Buda Ubud, Jl. Jembawan 1, Ubud, Mas, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia; Bali Buda Kerobokan, Jl. Banjar Anyar 24, Kerobokan, Bali, Indonesia; Bali Buda Bukit, Jl. Raya Uluwatu, Br. Wanagiri Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali, Indonesia. Open daily: 9.00am – 5.00pm.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Naked.Inc
Naked.Inc shop has all the food you need to stock any Indonesian kitchen – rice, cooking oil, pasta, spices, organic tempeh and nuts! They also have a small fresh selection of limes and herbs. Great thing is that they are trying to source as locally as possible.
Address: Naked.Inc, COMO Park, Jl. Kemang Timur No. 998, Bangka, Jakarta, Indonesia. Open daily: 8.00am – 8.00pm.
Farmers Market
Farmers Market is a corner shop selling granola, cereal, dried fruit, beans, sweet and tea and coffee. All their items are in huge dispensers for you to fill up with your own bags and jars. They do have a minimum order of 100 grams. They have two stores in Jakarta.
Address: Farmers Market, Jl. 99 Pesanggrahan Raya, Kembangan, Jakarta Barat, Jakarta, Indonesia; Summarecon Mall Serpong, Gading Serpong, Sentra, Jl. Boulevard Raya Gading Serpong, Tangerang, Jakarta, Indonesia. Open daily: 8.00am – 10.00pm.
The Bulkstore & Co
The Bulkstore & Co is located in the heart of Jakarta, and have everything from cooking spices, superfood powders (spirulina, acai, flaxseed), nuts, legumes, grains and various snacks. They also have all the staples – rice, pasta, coconut sugar and pink Hiimalayan sea salt.
Address: The Bulkstore & Co, Jl. 47 KH Wahid Hasyim, Menteng, Jakarta Pusat, Jakarta, Indonesia. Open daily: 8.00am – 9.30pm.
Lead image courtesy of The Bulkstore & Co.
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