Zero waste grocery delivery comes to the Bay Area

Zero Grocery buys in bulk and packs the food and other products into glass jars, boxes and reusable containers

Spotted: Zero Grocery has announced that it has raised $3 (€5.4) million in seed funding to aid the growth of its plastic-free grocery delivery service. The money brings the total amount raised by Zero to $4.7 (€3.98) million, at the time of writing. Bay Area-based Zero Grocery has committed to only providing plastic-free groceries – the company buys in bulk and packs the food and other products into glass jars, boxes and reusable containers.

Zero charges a delivery fee or a monthly membership. The company collects any empty containers from previous deliveries, which are sanitised and reused — a bit like a milkman for groceries. The delivery service features a wide variety of grocery items, from meat and seafood to cheeses, produce and pantry staples – all packaged in plastic-free packaging. For items not sold in bulk, such as shampoo and lotion, the company only offers plastic-free options.

The service aims to eliminate plastic and non-recyclable packaging from grocery deliveries, which will resonate with people who are looking for ways to lead a more sustainable life. The company stresses that it is fighting against the notion that convenience and environmentalism are mutually exclusive.

According to the company, “The Zero mission is simple. If 90% of global plastic waste comes from food consumption, then let‘s change the way we consume food. We architected a way to save the oceans while eating cleaner, healthier, and cheaper than ever before. We are leading the zero-plastic movement, one pantry at a time.”

In the battle for greater sustainability, zero waste is fast becoming a watchword. At Springwise, we have seen a growing number of innovations that aim to reduce waste in the grocery sector. These include a zero-waste bulk-buy service for stores and a digital supermarket that connects consumers directly with producers.

Explore more: Food & Drink Innovations | Sustainability Innovations