So, you’re looking to go zero-waste but don’t know where to start? Let’s go over the basics. Zero-Waste means that all products you use don’t produce any trash, you use every single part of whatever you purchase. This can apply to clothing, toothpaste, anything you use on a daily or weekly basis.
Calgary has some awesome businesses that will provide you with what you need to go zero-waste.
The Apothecary
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The Apothecary is your one-stop shop for natural body care and essential oils. The certified aromatherapists will help choose products right for your needs. It also has the Refillery, where you can purchase a number of products and use your own containers. From raw materials like beeswax to teas and coffees, bring in your jars or other containers to be weighed and filled with all the personal care, culinary and household cleaning products you need.
921 9 Ave. S.E., 403-453-0313, the-apothecary.ca
Bulk Barn
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Bulk Barn is the perfect places for beginners. This chain offers bulk cooking materials like flour and sugar as well as pet food, vitamins, snacks and more. Not sure what containers you need? No problem, Bulk Barn sells reusable jars and bags to use. Bulk Barn offers a comprehensive list of requirements for reusable containers as well as a zero-waste inspiration board for those just starting out as well as more seasoned zero-wasters.
3508 32 Ave S.E., 403 250-1399 and four other Calgary locations, bulkbarn.ca
Canary Goods
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Canary Goods is a purely zero-waste store. Located in Kensington, this is your one-stop shop for all your zero-waste essentials. Plastic bag alternatives for food storage, dryer balls and even steel brushes. Make sure to check out the refill counter for things like shampoo and conditioner, as well as deodorant and laundry soap. For the things in the store that do have packaging, don’t worry, all the packing is able to be recycled or composted.
1225A Kensington Rd. N.W., canarygoods.ca
Community Natural Foods
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Community Health Foods has three locations in the city that caters to all your natural health needs, with food, supplements and personal care. Along with the dairy-free ice creams and lovely prepared soups and salads lies the small refillery where you can fill up on shampoo, conditioner and body wash. So, while you do your weekly shop, stop in to grab your personal care as well.
1304 10 Ave S.W., 403-930-6363, and two other Calgary locations, communitynaturalfoods.com
Grinning Goat Boutique
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The Grinning Goat is a vegan boutique located on 17 Avenue S.W. This boutique is all about sustainability and helping reduce the environmental impact that clothing production has on the planet. Sold inside the Grinning Goat is the brand Unwrapped Life, a zero-waste personal care line. The line has shampoo, conditioner, reusable cotton pads for makeup removal, variety packs for travel as well. The line also has reusable metal straws to reduce the use of single-use plastics. All the products are available on the Grinning Goat website.
323 17 Ave S.W., 587-350-4628, grinninggoat.ca
Lush
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You know Lush for it’s hilarious and fizzy bath bombs, what you might not know is Lush has packaging-free options. Bath bombs, skincare and haircare are all available in what Lush calls their “naked” packaging. The naked packaging is simply taking the product in a recyclable paper bag or a reusable metal tin. So, next time you head to Lush to grab that favourite bath or personal care product, go naked.
6455 Macleod Trail S.W., 403-252-9415 and one other Calgary location, lush.ca
Nudemarket
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Nudemarket is another of Calgary’s zero-waste markets. It has everything from kitchen supplies to its own reusable packaging. Nudemarket also has the Nudefillery, which is a delivery service for all your home care and personal care needs. You pick your products and a time to pick-up or have the products delivered to your door in refillable containers. When you’re out of what you need, you do it all again, Nudefillery will even come pick up your containers to fulfill your order.
1312B 9 Ave S.E., 403-874-3509, nudemarket.ca
A previous version of this story stated that Lush was founded in Canada. In fact, it was founded in England.