By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
To shop with less packaging in Singapore, start with a refill or zero-waste shop for dry goods and cleaning products: you bring clean containers, weigh them empty, fill them from bulk bins and pay by weight. Singapore’s first zero-waste grocery, UnPackt, opened in 2018, and a handful of refill shops and refilleries have followed. Mainstream supermarkets sell mostly pre-packed goods, but you can still cut packaging by bringing your own bags, choosing loose produce, and asking at staffed counters whether they will use your own clean container.
Small shops open, move and close more often than supermarkets. Treat any shop named here as a lead, and check its current address and hours before you go.
Shopping with less packaging: quick facts
| How refill shops work | Bring clean containers, weigh them empty, fill, and pay by the weight of what you take |
| Best for | Dry goods such as rice, grains, nuts and spices, and cleaning products and toiletries |
| First zero-waste grocery | UnPackt, opened in 2018 |
| Supermarket counters | Some may pack into your own clean container on request; they may also decline for food safety reasons |
| Carrier bags | At least 5 cents each at large supermarket operators |
| Before you go | Check the shop’s current address, hours and container policy |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Cost | Sometimes a little cheaper per gram for bulk dry goods; sometimes more for specialist items. |
| What you get | Only the quantity you need, less packaging to throw away, and less food waste. |
| The alternative | Buying larger packs at the supermarket and bringing your own bags. |
| Worth it for | Small households, people who cook with many spices and grains, and anyone tired of cupboards full of half-used packets. |
| Skip it if | The nearest refill shop is a long trip; the journey can cost more than the packaging saves. |
| Last verified | 28 September 2026, against published store information and NEA’s carrier bag charge rules. |
How does a refill shop work?
- Bring clean, dry containers: jars, tubs, bottles or cloth bags. Many shops also sell containers or keep donated ones.
- Weigh your empty container at the counter, or on the shop’s scale, so its weight can be taken off the total.
- Fill from the bulk bins or dispensers with as much or as little as you need.
- Pay by weight at the counter, where the container’s weight is subtracted. Items with a set price, such as soap bars, are paid per piece.
When UnPackt opened, its founders said shopping there worked out about 5 per cent cheaper than supermarkets for comparable goods, because customers were not paying for packaging. Prices vary by item and shop, so compare per 100g against what you usually buy.
Where can you shop package-free in Singapore?
Guides in recent years have listed stores including UnPackt, Scoop Wholefoods, Jolly Eco and The Social Space, which ran one of Singapore’s first refilleries for cleaning products and toiletries. Some focus on dry food and pantry staples, others on household and personal care refills. Because small shops change often, check each store’s own website or social media for its current location, hours and container policy before you travel.
Will a supermarket fill my own container?
Supermarkets mainly sell pre-packed goods, so most of the shop is not set up for your containers. Staffed counters are the exception to ask about: some deli, butchery, fish or cooked-food counters may pack into a clean container you bring, while others will decline for food safety or hygiene reasons. Ask before you order. For fresh meat and fish, keep your container clean and cold, and use it only for that trip.
How does the carrier bag charge fit in?
Large supermarket operators in Singapore charge at least 5 cents for each disposable carrier bag. Bringing your own bags is the simplest packaging saving of all. Our guide to the supermarket bag charge explains which shops charge, what the money is used for and which bags are exempt.
Easy ways to cut packaging at any supermarket
- Bring your own bags, including small reusable produce bags for loose fruit and vegetables.
- Choose loose produce over pre-packed trays where it is available.
- Buy larger packs of staples you finish, such as rice, oil and detergent, rather than many small ones.
- Choose refill packs for detergent, hand soap and dishwashing liquid, and keep the original bottle.
- Skip single-serve portions of snacks and drinks for home use.
- Buy only what you will use. Food waste is packaging waste too, with the food thrown in.
Frequently asked questions
Are there zero-waste grocery stores in Singapore?
Yes. Singapore’s first, UnPackt, opened in 2018, and several refill shops and refilleries have followed. Check each store’s current details before you go.
How do refill shops work?
You bring clean containers, weigh them empty, fill them from bulk bins and pay by the weight of what you take.
Can I bring my own container to a supermarket?
Some staffed counters may pack into your own clean container on request, and some may decline for hygiene reasons. Ask first.
Is shopping at a refill shop cheaper?
Sometimes, for bulk dry goods, because you are not paying for packaging. Compare the price per 100g with what you usually buy.
How much is a plastic bag at Singapore supermarkets?
At least 5 cents per disposable carrier bag at large supermarket operators.
Read next
This page belongs to How Supermarket Works, our series on the grocery network behind the shelf. Continue with the supermarket bag charge and donating groceries in Singapore.
Sources checked 28 September 2026: reporting on UnPackt’s opening (2018) and its founders’ comments on price; recent roundups of zero-waste and refill stores in Singapore; NEA, Disposable Carrier Bag Charge. Store names are leads, not endorsements; WahLiao has no commercial relationship with any store named. Last updated 28 September 2026.
