Have you visited a refillery before? It is a fantastic way to purchase the products you love and reduce waste at the same time!
In honor of Plastic Free July, we wanted to share more about this eco-conscious shopping option that might not be familiar to everyone. We asked our friend Kendall at Amend Market in Greenville, SC to share a bit about her refillery with us.
What was the driving force that caused you to start a refillery?
Once I understood the impacts of the oil industry (on our communities, on our health and on our planet) I knew we had to do something to lessen our dependence on oil and plastics. Since plastic was designed to last forever, but my shampoo runs out in 2 months, I figured we could offer an alternative to reuse the bottle and fill up on products that have a positive impact.
Where are you located and what options are available for customers to refill with you?
We are located in Greenville, South Carolina and offer in store refills as well as porch pick up refills within a 30 mile radius of our shop. We also go to a handful of local markets/pop ups
What types of products do you offer?
We offer personal care products (shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, body wash, lotion, skincare, etc.), cleaning products (laundry soap, dish soap, all purpose, etc.) and pantry items (organic quinoa, rice, beans, etc.) We also have low waste accessory items like bamboo dish brushes, wool dryer balls and soap bars. All of our products come from small businesses who make the best of the best. Whispering Willow's Eucalyptus Mint Hand Soap is by farrrrr a customer favorite.
What can a customer expect who is new to buying at a refillery?
Honestly, a lot of our refillers say something along the lines of "I have more fun shopping here than Target and I save money!" and that about sums it up. The basic jist of a refillery is that you can bring whatever vessel you love and fill up products by weight. You can start with a couple of ounce of different things or stock up on gallons of laundry soap. I love that it's 100% customizable to what you need.
What is one of the unique aspects of running a refillery?
I feel like I am constantly challenging my personal (and our culture's) tendency towards whatever is convenient. What I've learned is that a lot of things worth doing aren't the most "convenient" option but they are the better option. So I'm constantly checking in with myself and educating our customers on the joy and benefit of slowing down and living intentionally. It's a challenge but watching everyone in their sustainability journey is the greatest privilege.
What new products are you excited about right now?
Toothpaste tabs are sooo fun and I'm working on expanding our skincare line which has been really exciting!
Many thanks to Kendall at Amend Market for taking the time to share with us! We hope this helps to demystify the refillery experience.
You can can find more details about Amend Market on their website or search Whispering Willow's stockist locator and choose "Refill Location" when you search to find a refillery close to you!
Be well,
Julia