A viral TikTok hack shows supermarket shoppers how to skip plastic carrier bags entirely by using free cardboard boxes from the produce section, saving money and reducing plastic waste.
TikToker Abu demonstrated the method in a video, picking up an apple box from the produce section—the kind that is often flattened and sent for recycling. Some viewers suggested he should ask permission first, so in the video he approaches a member of staff, who is happy for him to take it. Asking first avoids any awkwardness, he notes.
How the Cardboard Box Hack Works
Once given the go-ahead, shoppers carry the box around the store and pack items directly into it at the checkout. This eliminates the need to juggle bags or keep up with the conveyor belt, and the box holds a surprising amount. When one box is full, another can be stacked on top in the trolley, filled, and then slid into the car boot—provided it is not overpacked to the point of being too heavy to lift.
Viewers Praise the Tip and Its Benefits
Commenters say the trick really works and can also help supermarket staff. One commenter wrote: "You don't even have to buy anything, you can just come in and take them if you want. Retail stores have to pay for their recycling – the less they have, the happier they are. They get crushed in the bailer throughout the shift anyway."
Another added: "As a produce worker, take as many as you want, less for me to tidy up later." A third shared: "My mum does this all the time. She goes as far as rearranging nearly empty boxes so she can take them and permanently has one as a tidy box for her car boot stuff."
