Get your fill, forget the single-use plastics at downtown St. John's store

Waves of Changeis a CBC series exploring the single-use plastic we're discarding, and why we need to clean up our act. You can be part of the community discussion byjoiningour Facebook group.

A store in downtown St. John's is joining the pushto make environmentally friendly shopping easier for everyone with a new fill-your-own bottle station.

Customers can bring a bottle from home or purchase glass ones at the The Natural Vibe and then fill them up with one of many household basics.

"I think if we all kind of look at our things that we do in our day to day life, these small little switches make such a big impact on our environment. And I think it's at least worth a shot," owner Megan Kennedy told the St. John's Morning ShowMonday.

Kennedy said they have shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, laundry detergent, dish liquid and hand soap available for purchase scented and unscented for your reusable containers.

"Being a small business owner, you're always looking out to see what people are looking for, what's missing in the community," explained Kennedy.

A coworker was familiar with the concept from working in Ontario, so Kennedy said it just made sense to try it at her St. John's location, with herCorner Brook store about to do the same.

Roughly three weeks in, she said they're "really, really grateful that so many people are coming to take advantage of this."

Part of a movement

In terms of the cost difference compared to similar quality natural products sold in single-use plastic containers, "it works out to be 50 per cent, if not more, savings," said Kennedy.

Health and beauty products sell for about 2 cents per millilitre while cleaning products are about 1 cent a millilitre. So Kennedy said the same plastic bottle of shampoo that may be $8 elsewhere is roughly $4 in an eco-friendly refill from the store.

• Read more in CBC'sWaves of Changeseries

The health and wellness store, which also serves as a licensedcannabis retailer, is joining other locally-run businesses including Home Hardware in Manuels and Canadian retailer Bulk Barn in offering shoppers options apart from single-use plastics.

"My goal, down the road, would be to have almost like a zero waste store if possible," Kennedy said.

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