A mundane moment such as a trip to the grocery store can sometimes catalyse a fundamental shift in one’s worldview. It happened for me in Los Angeles, not on the sidelines of a celebrity sighting or within a hip eatery, but in the radical act of taking my own containers to the store. This experience at a zero waste refill shop changed my perception of consumerism and its power for transformation.
Visiting re_grocery in Los Angeles feels both cutting edge and nostalgic, like stepping into a time before disposable packaging dominated our lives. It’s a wake up call that we’ve been approaching consumption inefficiently, and there’s a more mindful, sustainable way to stock our homes. This isn’t just for environmental enthusiasts it’s a practical, joyful approach that could reshape how we interact with everyday essentials.
This is a tale of a revelation: the joy of minimizing waste, the simplicity of embracing new routines, and the empowerment of living in accordance with a sustainable vision for the world. Get ready to reimagine your shopping routines.
The Revelation: Why BYOC is the Future of Shopping
For years, I’ve carried my own take out containers to restaurants, and I still grin remembering a Burbank diner waitress saying, “You’re going to save the world.” Having that acknowledgement of my efforts against single use plastic meant something to me. Shopping at re_grocery took that to an even higher level, making a mundane errand into an exercise in caring for the planet. It’s not just a purchase it’s a dedication to escaping wasteful packaging loops.
BYOC is not a trick; it’s moving away from a 4.4 trillion pound waste generating system every year. Imagine a world where goods are not covered in plastic that sticks around for hundreds of years. It conserves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating people’s individual choices can have a ripple effect.
The good news? It’s easy to implement. You don’t have to be an expert zero waster. It’s about making conscious choices, one refill at a time, and discovering that sustainability feels rich, not constrictive. It’s about becoming part of a solution, not bemoaning the problem.
Stepping Inside Re_Grocery: The Candy Store for the Planet
Entering re_grocery is being a child in a candy shop, but the rush is from rescuing the planet. The sheer amount of products open and ready to be scooped, or pourable into my containers excites an otherwise ordinary activity. It’s an odyssey that quenches a hunger for something new while doing something meaningful.
With more than 500 refillable bulk products, re_grocery has everything from pantry items such as nuts and spices to household and cosmetic items. The ability to pick just the right quantities, instead of pre packaged ones, feels empowering. The clean, friendly environment within the store makes package free shopping a pleasure, not an inconvenience, inviting mindful consumption with each product you choose.
The Tare Master: How Re_Grocery Makes Package Free Shopping a Breeze
Re_grocery’s “tare” system is easy. Bring any clean, dry container glass, plastic, or even a wine bottle to use for soap. Weigh it at the tare station, scan a tag, and attach a rubber band to track its weight, paying only for the product.
Next, fill your container with as little or as much as you desire no minimum purchase necessary. This convenience avoids waste, whether you are stocking up or taking a pinch of spice for a recipe. Left your containers at home? Re_grocery sells recycled paper bags, reusable glass jars, and cloth produce bags. Friendly staff assist newcomers, and the process is warm and seamless.
Beyond Groceries: The Diverse World of Refillables at Re_Grocery
Re_grocery is more than just dry items such as rice or oats, and it has liquids such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, dish detergent, and laundry detergent. This ensures that you can cover all your home needs with not a single plastic bottle. They have protein powders, loose leaf teas, oils, vinegars, and even kombucha on tap. Making your own custom trail mixes from nuts, crackers, dried fruits, and chocolate treats is fun and green.
The store stocks fresh produce such as eggs, kimchi, and vegetables, in addition to non plastic products such as metal containers, plastic free deodorant, and reusable bags. Re_grocery is a one stop experience for minimal waste living, opening what’s possible in sustainable living.
The True Value: Why Refill Products Are Worth Every Penny
At first glance, prices like 40 cents per ounce for hand soap or $9 for solid deodorant might seem high compared to big box stores. But as Julie Darrell of BYO Long Beach says, it’s “apples and oranges.” Refill shops prioritize high quality, eco friendly ingredients, often locally sourced from companies that treat workers fairly. You’re not just buying a product you’re supporting a sustainable supply chain.
To select these products is a conscious choice, free of the underlying environmental and social expense of mass produced products. Worth is found in healthful ingredients, moral methods, and a care for the earth, so that every penny takes us closer to a healthier tomorrow.
More Than Grocery Shopping: Re_Grocery’s Focus on Community & Sustainability
Re_grocery creates a community based on sustainability, with a rewards program of $10 off after $100 purchase, inviting repeat patronage. They collaborate with Plastic Beach to recycle stretchy plastic film into sustainable decking and collaborate with ReCORK™ to recycle corks into carbon negative products. They even take back empty CO2 canisters, which frequently come with refill discounts.
For companies, re_grocery offers bulk snacks for break rooms, cutting out single use packaging. They promote local makers through product submissions and host pop up shops, building a connected, sustainable community that reaches beyond the store.
The Ripple Effect: Taking BYOC Beyond the Grocery Aisle
My BYOC habit extends to dining out, like when I packed a tuna melt into my reusable container at a Burbank diner. This small act, practiced for a decade, counters the 150 million tons of single use plastic waste generated annually. It feels empowering, especially when larger environmental issues seem overwhelming.
Having containers during eating out saves time with impatient friends or children,.saving waste and tantrums. It also serves restaurants by cutting back on disposable containers, alleviating budget constraints and making staff work easier. And bringing back clean plates conveys gratitude for the food, which can bring about good vibes.
Sustain LA: The First to Embody Zero Waste Living
Sustain LA of Highland Park, the first zero waste refill station in Los Angeles, is a center of sustainable living. Its refill station sells soaps, shampoos, and cleansers, making bring your own container effortless. Aside from products, they offer in home consultation and zero waste event assistance, extending their reach.
Curbside pickup in reusable bottles with online ordering provides convenience, making sustainability accessible to any lifestyle. Sustain LA enables residents to personalize their eco friendly path, positioning it as an important community resource.
R[eco]ntained: Beauty and Beyond, Ditching Plastic with Style
R[eco]ntained, a woman owned boutique in Santa Monica, offers beauty items and organic olive oil with luxury meeting sustainability. Their physical and online stores invite turning away from single use bottles to refillable options. The expertly edited range of high quality, responsible products makes daily routines into gestures of care for you and the earth.
Bring Your Own Long Beach: Inspiring Local Reduction, One Refill at a Time
Since 2017, Bring Your Own Long Beach (BYO) has provided bulk refills, from toothpaste tablets to tea, encouraging locals to cut waste. Their fair labor and environmental friendly ingredients support a superior supply chain. BYO makes sustainable options accessible, and everyone can adopt reusable alternatives.
Co Opportunity Market: LA County’s Organic Food Paradise
Co Opportunity Market, LA County’s sole organic food cooperative, boasts an enormous bulk department and 100% certified organic fresh produce. Available with in store shopping, curbside pickup, and Instacart delivery, it’s open to everyone. In collaboration with FoodCycle LA, this Green Business certified market battles food insecurity and waste, making every dollar count.
Prostainable: Your Female Owned Guide to Low Waste Living
Prostainable, a female owned boutique in Woodland Hills, has plastic free shipping and in store pickup, making it easy to be green. They stock reusable, compostable items such as soaps, toilet tablets, and shampoo bars, as well as accessories such as stainless steel containers and glass straws. DIY classes take your eco journey deeper, combining practicality with inspiration.
The Well Refill: From Polish to Pre Loved, A Conscious Mix
The Well Refill in Topanga Canyon provides more than 100 refillable products, including furniture polish and lotions, in addition to low waste and second hand items. Products such as plastic free deodorant and reusable menstrual cups form a circular economy. The personal staff assists you in navigating, and sustainable living is made accessible and effective.
My Zero Waste Store: A Monumental Impact in Pasadena
My Zero Waste Store in Pasadena showcases the power of collective action, with over 5 million pieces of plastic packaging diverted by June 2022. Offering refillable and unique eco friendly products, it turns shopping into environmental stewardship. Every purchase contributes to a plastic free future, proving small actions add up.
Los Angeles’ refill shops, from Sustain LA to My Zero Waste Store, are creating a thriving, sustainable community. These businesses do more than sell goods they teach, unite communities, and foster a revolution against waste. Take a container, stop by one of these hubs, and find the satisfaction of shopping that is in harmony with a healthier world. To a future when our decisions really do matter.
