Diana Duren, co-founder of Sage Refill Market in Tennessee, started a zero waste store in Nashville, where people can bring their clean empty containers and fill them with bulk items. She shares how this idea took root and how every company should consider putting plastic free shopping at its core.
When we sat down with Diana, she opened up about her and her husband’s journey as sustainable entrepreneurs. As one of the only package free and zero waste shops in Nashville, Sage Refill Market provides customers with a wide range of waste free goods for the everyday Earth hero—everything from bamboo toothbrushes to hair care, shampoo bars, beeswax food wraps, and cleaning products.
Diana shared their motivations for starting the zero waste shop, what makes their store unique, and her advice for other entrepreneurs who are serious about sustainability and the plastic free lifestyle.
Let's get into our discussion.
We know the wastefulness of retail packaging, but what was the spark for you to begin your own plastic free shopping business? What motivated you?
"Our family was looking for ways to reduce our plastic waste after learning that only 9% is actually recycled (that number is down to 5% now). There weren't many resources in our city, and we found we were having to order many products online, which didn't necessarily feel environmentally sound. So, we decided to open a store that would help other people like us who were looking for ways to shop locally and live more sustainably."
That is amazing! Shopping locally rather than at stores online definitely helps support your community and is better for the environment, too. How else is your brick-and-mortar store contributing to environmental sustainability?
"About half of our store is devoted to bulk refills for everything from shampoo and lotion to deodorant and laundry detergent. Customers can bring their own containers in, and we take them, fill them, and customers only pay for what they are getting. By reusing containers over and over, we are saving thousands of single-use plastic bottles and jugs from the landfills. The rest of our store is stocked with items that are either plastic-free, locally made, and/or help replace plastic or single-use products."
We love how easy it is for customers to do business with you. What other advice would you give other entrepreneurs serious about sustainability and business?
"Sustainability has to be one of the key pillars of any new business. We do not have an infinite supply of resources. It is often thought that sustainability equals more cost, and while some greener services or products may cost a bit more on the front end, most of the time, they save money in the long run. And, of course, these choices help our planet as well. Education is important here, and making sure that your customers understand the commitment to sustainability and engaging them to be partners in this journey can be powerful, and it helps build your community."
Building a strong community and having authentic relationships with your customers is essential in any business and differentiates you from other businesses. However, what else makes your zero waste store unique to others in your area?
"We obviously stand out from other stores in our city because of our sustainable mission and refillable products, but we are also a little different from some other refilleries in our desire to provide a space for local artists and vendors who share our same passion. For example, handmade jewelry from designers who don't use any plastic materials are a great way to keep our inventory fun and dollars hyper-local by supporting these artists. We do try to have fun with this, and create an inviting and warm space for customers."
What would it be if you could get 85 percent of the world to adopt a single behavior?
"Stop and look at whatever item you are about to throw in the trash and think for a moment: is that food that could be composted, a paper wrapping that can be recycled, or a glass jar that could be reused. Too often, we throw things away without thinking about where it ends up. By simply taking the time to think more about the end result of that trash and what we can do to minimize it, will make a huge difference."
Sustainable Living Through Plastic Free Shopping
Whether it's by creating a space for local vendors and artists or educating consumers through their refill shoppe's message, Diana and her family are contributing towards reducing waste products in a truly admirable way. They encourage others who might consider opening their eco collectives, grocery stores, or zero waste online shops to focus on sustainable products and reducing the waste grocery stores create.
After all, we can all help create a greener future and reduce our output of waste products one sustainable personal care item at a time.
👉 https://www.sagerefillmarket.com/
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