Art and Blog Posts which Sprung from the Mind of Warren Deferbrache

Bagging most groceries makes no sense

Illustration of grocery shopping, loading a car, and unpacking groceries at home
Warren Deferbrache outlines an alternative grocery shopping method. He uses a handheld scanner at checkout to efficiently scan items while keeping most in the cart, reducing waste and bag usage. Although it requires extra steps and a scanner, he finds it smoother and less burdensome than traditional methods, promoting convenience without significant lifestyle changes.

by Warren Deferbrache

Here is the usual process:

  1. Walk through the aisles, selecting items and placing them methodically in the cart
  2. Arrive at checkout and unload each item from the cart onto the conveyor belt, watching as the clerk bags them—or doing it yourself if you prefer to control the process
  3. Transfer the bagged groceries back into the cart
  4. Wheel the loaded cart to the car and load everything into the trunk
  5. Drive home and unload the groceries onto the kitchen counter
  6. Remove items from their bags and put them away in cupboards, freezer, and refrigerator

The way I do it:

  1. Begin with the same shopping approach—gathering items and filling the cart
  2. At checkout, I keep groceries in the cart and use a handheld scanner to methodically scan each item as I go
    • Most items never need to leave the cart during this process
    • I start at the front of the cart and methodically move items toward the back as I scan each one, helping me keep track of what I’ve processed
    • I bag only the smaller, more fragile items for convenience—usually just one or two bags total
    • (Note: this method only works if your store provides handheld scanner devices)
  3. From there, the process follows the same path—loading into the car and unpacking at home

The benefits of this approach:

  • Using dramatically fewer bags is one of the most obvious advantages
    • Less waste to dispose of at home, and I’m not contributing to the constant stream of single-use plastic bags that end up in landfills
    • Lower cost in states that charge for bags (though fortunately, mine doesn’t)
  • Significantly less physical strain at the checkout counter, since the heavier items stay in the cart instead of being repeatedly lifted. This is especially valuable these days when most of us are using self-checkout lanes and don’t have the help of a cashier

The drawbacks of this approach:

  • A few additional steps and movements are required when loading and unloading the car, since more grabs and placement are needed with loose items
  • A handheld scanner is essential—not every store offers this option. I use the cordless scanners at Walmart, which work quite efficiently, my Kroger store had them now also
  • When I have a large haul, the self-checkout process can become tedious and time-consuming. However, I only shop once every two weeks, and Walmart and Kroger larger self-checkout lanes accommodate this well, functioning much like a traditional checkout lane minus the cashier

In the end, this isn’t a revolutionary or life-altering strategy—but it does make the whole shopping experience feel smoother and more efficient. I genuinely appreciate using fewer bags, even if I wouldn’t describe myself as a dedicated environmentalist. Let’s just say I’m tree-friendly in my own way—I might stop to smile at them and run my hand along their bark, but I’m not about to chain myself to one. It’s a modest approach that feels good on multiple levels: less physical strain, less waste, and the quiet satisfaction of thinking through a process and optimizing it, one shopping trip at a time.