Well-stocked and fairly affordable (5/5 Green Stars) The Re-Up Refill Shop, based in Oakland, California, offers zero-waste solutions for most of the stuff that you might need for your home. It opened in April 2020, just as the Covid lockdown began, so it escaped my notice at first. (Also, it initially opened in West Oakland and then later moved to Rockridge) I’m sure the timing was tough on business but things seem to be to taking off now that the students are back in town. It may be just my echo chamber speaking but I think there are at least a few people who are sick of all the packaging waste that was generated during lockdown. Perhaps the pendulum will swing the other way now…
It’s frustrating to see stores that focus on ethical goods (minimal waste, vegan food, fair trade items) open up and then eventually close down. I think a good part of it is that we develop habits of shopping in larger stores that eventually become locked in. Well, hopefully the end of lockdown will help us unlock that habit and create new ones :) The other issue is that many of the items at these stores simply cost more than we are willing to pay. I found that most of the things I bought at the Re-Up Refill Shop were reasonably priced, with some exceptions. I think it’s worth considering that good low-waste stores like Re-Up don’t just stock bulk items, they select items that meet certain ethical criteria. I’m giving the Re-up Refill shop 5 out of 5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact. Here’s a list of Re-Up’s own set of standards: We prioritize local We prioritize circular (our vendors take back their containers, washing and reusing them) We prioritize minority–owned businesses We prioritize b corps & businesses invested in their workers and community We prioritize package free & plastic free We prioritize high quality products that work well We always choose non-toxic for all our cleaning products and certified organic for all our food products.
The Re-Up Refills website provides a short profile on many of the brands that are stocked in the store. For example, here’s the description of Sappo Hill Soap: Sappo Hill remains true to their old fashioned master soapmaking values, using cold-process methods to make plant-based castile soaps. Sappo Hill’s Soap is all natural, animal free, cruelty-free, and uses only organic ingredients. Each soap is hand-crafted, wire-cut, air-dried, and aged to create a long-lasting hardworking soap; kettle made and cut by hand daily in Ashland, Oregon.
The Re-Up Refills founders have worked in waste reduction projects for more than a decade, including ecological farms and an eco-hauling company.
