diff --git a/changes/2972.misc.rst b/changes/2972.misc.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f0258c1d05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/2972.misc.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Avoid an unnecessary memory copy when writing Zarr with obstore
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/buffer/core.py b/src/zarr/core/buffer/core.py
index 1318f868a0..eaafa4c714 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/buffer/core.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/buffer/core.py
@@ -255,6 +255,19 @@ def as_numpy_array(self) -> npt.NDArray[Any]:
         """
         ...
 
+    def as_buffer_like(self) -> BytesLike:
+        """Returns the buffer as an object that implements the Python buffer protocol.
+
+        Notes
+        -----
+        Might have to copy data, since the implementation uses `.as_numpy_array()`.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+            An object that implements the Python buffer protocol
+        """
+        return memoryview(self.as_numpy_array())  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+
     def to_bytes(self) -> bytes:
         """Returns the buffer as `bytes` (host memory).
 
diff --git a/src/zarr/storage/_local.py b/src/zarr/storage/_local.py
index bd5bfc1da2..b46c263333 100644
--- a/src/zarr/storage/_local.py
+++ b/src/zarr/storage/_local.py
@@ -52,10 +52,10 @@ def _put(
         with path.open("r+b") as f:
             f.seek(start)
             # write takes any object supporting the buffer protocol
-            f.write(value.as_numpy_array())  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+            f.write(value.as_buffer_like())
         return None
     else:
-        view = memoryview(value.as_numpy_array())  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+        view = value.as_buffer_like()
         if exclusive:
             mode = "xb"
         else:
diff --git a/src/zarr/storage/_obstore.py b/src/zarr/storage/_obstore.py
index 4381acb2ae..e3d8d9cee6 100644
--- a/src/zarr/storage/_obstore.py
+++ b/src/zarr/storage/_obstore.py
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ async def set(self, key: str, value: Buffer) -> None:
 
         self._check_writable()
 
-        buf = value.to_bytes()
+        buf = value.as_buffer_like()
         await obs.put_async(self.store, key, buf)
 
     async def set_if_not_exists(self, key: str, value: Buffer) -> None:
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ async def set_if_not_exists(self, key: str, value: Buffer) -> None:
         import obstore as obs
 
         self._check_writable()
-        buf = value.to_bytes()
+        buf = value.as_buffer_like()
         with contextlib.suppress(obs.exceptions.AlreadyExistsError):
             await obs.put_async(self.store, key, buf, mode="create")