Where to shop

Ready to shop with less waste? A few simple swaps can make a big difference.

• Bring a Reusable Shopping Bag – Skip single-use plastic and paper bags.
• Pack Mesh or Cloth Produce Bags – A reusable option for fruits and vegetables.
• Bring Clean Glass Jars & Bottles – Perfect for bulk foods and liquid refills.
• Use Reusable Metal Containers – Great for deli items, prepared foods, and bulk purchases.

Small changes add up! Bringing your own reusable containers helps reduce packaging waste and supports a more sustainable community.

Tare weight (pronounced fair with a t) is simply the weight of your empty container before you put any food or product inside it. Bulk and refill stores deduct the tare weight at checkout so you only pay for the exact weight of the goods you’re buying—never the heavy glass jar!

3 Simple Steps to Tare Your Jars:

• Weigh It Empty: Before filling your jar or bottle, place it on the scale at the store’s tare station (or ask the cashier to weigh it).
• Mark the Weight: Write the weight directly on the jar or lid using a dry-erase marker, chalk pen, or piece of painter’s tape (e.g., Tare: 0.85 lbs or 380g).
• Fill & Checkout: Fill your container with spices, grains, oil, or soap. At checkout, the cashier subtracts your written tare weight from the total scale weight.
• Pro-Tip: Once you weigh your favorite jars at home or in-store, leave the tare weight written on the bottom or lid permanently with a sharpie or piece of tape. You won’t have to weigh them empty ever again!

Small changes add up! Bringing your own reusable containers helps reduce packaging waste and supports a more sustainable community.

Shopping in bulk is fun and zero-waste, but keeping shared bins clean keeps the store safe and welcoming for everyone. Follow these quick guidelines:

• 100% Dry Containers: Make sure your jars, bottles, and cloth bags are completely dry before filling. A single drop of moisture inside a jar can ruin an entire gravity bin of dry grains or spices.
• Use Store Scoops & Funnels: Always use the dedicated scoops, tongs, or clean store funnels provided at each station. Never scoop directly using your own jar, lid, or hands.
• Snap a Photo of Product Codes (PLU): Most bulk bins have a 4-digit PLU or item number. Take a quick picture of the number on your phone or write it on your jar’s tape—your cashier will thank you!
• Accidental Spill? No Stress! If you drop a few beans or spill a splash of soap, just let a staff member know right away so they can clean it up safely.

Walking into a refill shop for the first time can feel a little confusing, but zero-waste shopping is a practice, not perfection! Here is how to make your first visit smooth:

• Start with Just One or Two Items: You don’t need to overhaul your entire kitchen and bathroom on day one. Pick one high-use item to start—like dish soap, hand soap, or rolled oats.
• Forgot Your Containers? No Problem: Almost every local refillery features a “Community Jar Station”—a collection of free, clean, donated glass jars you can grab and use on the spot.
• Ask the Staff for Help: Refill shop owners and team members are passionate about zero-waste living and love helping first-timers. Hand them your empty jar, and they’ll gladly walk you through the tare and fill process!
• Bring Any Clean Container: You don’t need expensive aesthetic mason jars. Clean peanut butter jars, pasta sauce jars, or old plastic detergent bottles work just as well!