A Shopping Strategy That Reduces Waste

At this store, customers stock up on soap, laundry detergent and other household supplies with reusable containers.

- EMMA PATCH

What is a zero-waste refill store?

Everything is sold package-free, or at least plastic-free, and customers use their own containers to fill up on food or household goods, such as kitchen and bathroom supplies, cleaning products, and body-care products. The goal is to eliminate dependency on single-use plastic.

Can buying goods at a zero-waste store save customers money?

People tend to buy things in larger quantities at a zero-waste refill store than, say, a grocery store, so your total bill might be higher than it would be if you bought the same items elsewhere. But based on the price per ounce, it may work out to be a bit more affordable. With the brands that you see at the grocery store, you're paying not only for the product but also the packaging it comes in, as well as the branding and advertising.

What inspired you to start your store?