The Nickel Refillery Inc. - Zero Waste Living

Have you heard the good news - The Nickel Refillery has opened its doors to Sudburians at 277 Regent St. as northern Ontario's first zero waste store. The five co-owners have made it easy for locals to make ethically responsible and environmentally friendly choices in the city - bring in your containers and fill er' up!

They have bulk items including laundry detergent, shampoo and conditioner, frozen fruit, kombucha and hummus as well as stand-alone products such as toothpaste tabs, loofahs, soaps, beeswax food wrap and not to mention our recycled woodland notepads (*wink*wink*). ​The Nickel Refillery has also sourced a variety of products that includes supporting local or Canadian made products, organic, non-toxic, preservative-free and cruelty free.

What is Zero Waste Living?

​Having recently listened to the interview with Jonathan Safron on his book We Are the Weather discussing his 4 point plan to fight climate change, inspired us to think about how we can make choices and lifestyle changes everyday to make a difference. Zero waste living embraces a circular economy versus linear, meaning the products you use will go back to the earth instead of depleting resources and trashing the planet (landfill waste). Watch the Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard to understand how the materials economy and linear system operates in connection to our social and environmental realities. We have also done a bit of research to find out what we can do to go green and live zero waste by changing our daily habits. This includes things such as recycling paper products, avoiding plastics, etc.

We do know zero waste living won’t be enough. We need to get political and talk about policy as it is not all consumer responsibility but the responsibility of producer and the government. The zero-waste movement is also known to be most available to those privileged enough to have the time and money to think and purchase eco products. However, the more we move towards purchasing in bulk and waste-free, the more we shift cultural and consumer norms. And the more pressure we place on the government — the more inclusive the movement will become. We can all make a personal plan to fit inside the big climate plan and the Nickel Refillery doors opening takes us one step closer.

See you at the Nickel Refillery while we move towards zero waste living in 2020. Also, stay tuned for our 2020 Climate Plan.

Have a great day!

Cheers,
WS