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Make Your Sustainable Business Dream Come True: Top Tips to Open a Zero-Waste Store

Modified on February 14, 2023 at 12:05 AM

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The world is becoming increasingly conscious of the impact that our consumerism is having on the environment. People are looking for ways to reduce their waste and live more sustainably, and that’s where zero-waste stores come in. These stores offer customers the opportunity to shop for goods without creating any excess packaging waste. Not only does this lower their individual footprint, but these stores are typically more budget-friendly to boot. 

For those who are passionate about the environment and good food, opening a zero-waste store can be a fulfilling business venture. It combines your passion for sustainability and puts those values at the forefront of a trend that is only growing. Starting your own business, however, can be a daunting task. You have to think about the products you sell, how you will package them, and how to make your store stand out from the crowd.

It’s a lot to think about, but there’s no reason to fret. With this guide, you’ll know all the top tips essential to opening up a zero-waste store: 

How Do Zero Waste Stores Work?

Zero waste stores are, essentially, the new generation of bulk food stores. In fact, with just a few changes, many bulk food stores can seamlessly relaunch their brands with a new zero-waste focus. 


The key difference, after all, is that customers need to bring their containers with them to a zero-waste store. Bulk food stores today usually offer free plastic bags for customers to use. This defeats the purchase of “zero waste”. 

That being said, if you don’t offer containers in your zero-waste store, you’ll end up alienating many of your customers. This doesn’t mean you need to offer one-use plastic. You can use recycled paper bags, for example. You could even have a drop-off program so that customers can drop off their cleaned plastic containers to you for a discount. New customers, or customers that forgot their containers, can then take those donated containers for free. 


These donated containers will simply be reused plastic packaging from the big store brands. Clean them, weigh them, and offer them for free. 

To boost sales, also offer premium pre-weight containers. Offer a mix of bags and attractive pantry containers to boost sales. 

How zero waste actually works is very simple. Containers and bags are weighed in advance, and that weight is written down somewhere on the container. When it comes time to checkout, the weight of the container is removed from the equation, so customers pay for their product by weight only. 

Other products you can sell outside of bulk products is fresh, plastic-free fruits and vegetables. You can also sell products from eco-friendly brands. 

How to Launch Your Very Own Zero-Waste Store 

Zero waste stores are wonderful for the planet and the community. If you’re passionate about sustainability and want to start a business of your own, then a zero-waste store is the perfect plan. All you need to get started is to follow these steps: 

Conduct Market Research


The first step to any new small business is to know where to open your store. The right answer will depend on several factors, from where you are currently located to the values of the community overall. If your community is struggling, for example, then your zero-waste store will need to be as budget-friendly as possible. The good news is that bulk food stores are great for budget shoppers. 

For a higher-end zero-waste store, you’ll need to open up in a community that has both more disposable income and also is sustainably minded. See what other stores are in the area, what festivals and projects are ongoing, and work from there. 


How your customers will get to you is another thing to consider. Ideally, you should be both near public transportation links, be on a busy road itself, and be close to a parking lot so that customers have a choice in ways to get to you. 

Market research should also unearth what kind of products your store will need to sell. You can get a jump on some suppliers pretty confidently, however. For example, all zero-waste stores, by default, should offer baking supplies, spices, and other dry goods in bulk. You can find and work out exact costs in advance pretty easily. Take garlic, for example. You can find a host of different options for bulk garlic powder online and work out the price differences in advance. Do this with all the dried goods, and you can work out how much you’d need to launch your business. 

Develop Your Business Plan


Using all the information you uncovered in the first step, you’ll then want to develop a business plan. A business plan will force you to answer key questions you may not have considered on your own. It is, essentially, a basic blueprint to bring your business to life. Having one will keep you organized and on task. It can also help you when it comes to sourcing your funding since you’ll have a viable plan of action to show your investors or the bank. 

Secure Funding 

Funding will come from your own personal savings, friends and family, loans, and grants. You may be able to get a small business loan from the SBA – but keep in mind these take time. You also don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket. Diversity is best. 

Designing Your Store

Choose environmentally friendly materials and products, create an eye-catching and welcoming atmosphere, and make sure to have all the necessary equipment for your store, such as scales, dispensers, and containers. You want to make it effortless for your customers, so they come back. 

Source Your Products

You’ve likely already found and made a note of the suppliers that you want to work with. The next step is to negotiate the prices and place your orders. Always start by ordering a sample. This is how you can quality control your products from the get-go and not waste money by buying something that ends up being a sub-par product. 

Launch and Improve 

Invite your community, organize a launch event, and spread the word through various marketing channels, such as social media, email marketing, and word-of-mouth. Launching well can hugely impact your success, but you should never ride that success without propelling your store further. Continuously evaluate your store’s performance, listen to your customer’s feedback, and make changes to improve your store’s efficiency and customer satisfaction.

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Posted By The Fashionable Housewife
on February 13, 2023 at 11:01 AM
Filed Under: Finances
Tagged With: Business, business finances, business woman, finances, small business

About The Fashionable Housewife

Sarah-Jean Ballard is the Editor in Chief of The Fashionable Housewife blog and Founder of Fashionable Media. Married to a sexy Molecular Biologist, housewife, mom to 5, homeschooler, Certified Personal Nutritionist and entrepreneur who's mission is to help moms just like you look and feel GREAT! Other interests include dancing, yoga, positive intactivism, natural birth and breastfeeding support, babywearing, paleo & gluten-free cooking, and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle to all.

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Sarah-Jean Ballard

Hi! I’m Sarah-Jean. I’m a Christian, the wife of a handsome Molecular Biologist, and the homeschooling mother of 5 beautiful kids!

I enjoy homesteading, reading, writing, cooking, baking, crafting, home decorating, Xtend Barre, and of course, fashion!

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You do not find a happy life. You make it. 

That’s the biggest lesson that grief has taught me. If I just wait around to be happy again, I’ll die sad. 

You don’t get through grief and come out the other side. That’s not how it works. You learn how to grow around it like a tree grows around a rock that’s in the way. You don’t wait for the rock to move. Cause it’s not gonna. 

Choose happy. And then make it happen. 

#choosehappy #joyinthejourney #griefjourney #healingfromtrauma
8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favor 8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favorite. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, @daeinexplains 🥰

The last 20 years with you have been my favorite years on this earth. ❤️ 

If I did anything right in my life, it was when I decided to give my heart to you.  You are my best friend, my soul mate, my better half, my rock, my everything. 

I love you.

#couplegoals #marriedlife #motherhoodthroughinstagram #weddingday #marriagegoals #yourestilltheone
Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍ Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍♀️

This little guy always asks to help when he sees me cleaning the house, washing the floors, doing laundry, or emptying the dishwasher. That’s what I love about Montessori parenting - it allows kids to do  big jobs and in turn makes them eager to help! 

He was over the moon when we gave him the @lovevery floor mop that actually works! He uses it daily now. The mopping pad is machine washable and you can refill the fluid container on it. I usually just do water and a drop of essential oils because he loves it when everything smells clean! 😜 

Definitely recommend! If you want to grab this mop for your little helper, it’s in the Storyteller Play Kit from Lovevery for 3 year olds. 

LlNK is in my bio to get FREE shipping! 💃🏼

#lovevery #loveverytoddler #loveverypartner #montessoriathome #montessoriplayroom #montessoritoddler
Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hol Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hole. 

Sometimes we outgrown relationships. Sometimes we realize someone else isn’t a good influence on our lives. Sometimes we realize we aren’t a good influence for someone else. Sometimes we need to let things go that aren’t good for us in order to grow. And that’s ok. 

Stop trying to sit at a table you are no longer welcome at. Just be yourself, focus on God, love your family and friends, and the right people will gravitate to you. ✌🏻 

#raisingsaints #momlife #motherhoodunplugged #selflovejourney #growingpains #selfcaresunday
When your toaster breaks from a power surge you ta When your toaster breaks from a power surge you take that as a sign that it’s time to upgrade! 🤪

It wasn’t hard to pick a new 4 slice toaster. As soon as I saw this one from @haden_usa I added it to my cart. I bought it from @lordandtaylor because it had the fastest shipping and I didn’t want to wait! 

No fancy electronics, screens, or extra features we don’t need. Just simple, straight forward functions and perfect results everytime. Plus it matches all my @cafeappliances too! 😂👍🏻

What do you think of this 4 slice toaster?! 

#toasters #kitchenappliances #kitchendesign #kitchendecor #whitekitchen #farmhousekitchen #farmhousestyle #whiteappliances
I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @en I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @enjoiya! 💃🏼 

The “Steffi” in green are the perfect boots for ushering in spring weather with their delicious vintage leather and worn-in look right out of the box. I love the chunky lug soles and inside zippers to get them on and off easily. 

These are the boots you’ll want to wear again and again. And again. 

Use my coupon code BALLARD20 to get 20% off your order! Find them on www.enjoiya.com

#leatherbooties #enjoiya #italianshoes #realmomstyle #momstyle #momstyletips
All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with the prices of eggs right now! 🤪 🐔 🥚 

Guess it’s ok to be a crazy chicken lady and have a homestead now! 🤣

#momlife #crazychickenlady #homesteadlife
I’m addicted and I just can’t get enough 😂🫣

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Want to learn more about why I’m obsessed with these pots and pans? Visit my blog and search CARAWAY! Or scroll through my feed! 🥳

#homemaker #housewifelife #homestyler #momlife
Today was my due date for Dylan. Considering he w Today was my due date for Dylan.

Considering he was my 6th child, it's possible he would have been here by now. It’s been extra hard for me this week. 

Despite my best efforts to be strong and stay positive, I am completely brokenhearted. I’m just being honest. I could pretend I’m fine, but that doesn't do me or anyone else any good to be dishonest about the pain of miscarriage or the grief that comes with losing a child. 

My heart is completely shattered from having an empty womb and an empty nursery. An empty bassinet in the corner and unused tiny newborn outfits, all washed, folded, and ready… for nothing. 

It makes me physically sick to my stomach when I think about it all and I can't even fathom how I got here. How did I get here? 

This isn't how it's supposed to be! I should be holding a newborn right now! It’s so unfair. 

In an instant, my baby was gone and there was nothing I could do to change that. 

It doesn't matter how much time passes or what else happens in life, I will always miss him. My heart with always long for my baby. 

Those who haven't experienced loss tell you that "Don’t worry! Things will get better, just focus on the positive!" but people who actually know this grief and what it actually feels like to lose a baby, won’t tell you that. They know this hard road. They understand that unfortunately you don't just “get over it.” 

The grief doesn't just go away, even if you try to ignore it, it's still there. Like the sun. You don’t have to look at it to know it’s there. You can turn your back on it but it will still warm your skin. 

The grief from losing a child is unbearable. 
It is unpredictable.
It is unforgiving.
It is relentless.
It is all-consuming.
And it completely shatters you when you don’t expect it. 

You don’t get over it. You don’t forget. You simply learn to live with it. And I’m learning to live with it every day. 

It’s been 137 days I’ve had to live without my baby. 

Lord Jesus, please… hold me extra tight tonight. 

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You do not find a happy life. You make it. 

That’s the biggest lesson that grief has taught me. If I just wait around to be happy again, I’ll die sad. 

You don’t get through grief and come out the other side. That’s not how it works. You learn how to grow around it like a tree grows around a rock that’s in the way. You don’t wait for the rock to move. Cause it’s not gonna. 

Choose happy. And then make it happen. 

#choosehappy #joyinthejourney #griefjourney #healingfromtrauma
8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favor 8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favorite. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, @daeinexplains 🥰

The last 20 years with you have been my favorite years on this earth. ❤️ 

If I did anything right in my life, it was when I decided to give my heart to you.  You are my best friend, my soul mate, my better half, my rock, my everything. 

I love you.

#couplegoals #marriedlife #motherhoodthroughinstagram #weddingday #marriagegoals #yourestilltheone
Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍ Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍♀️

This little guy always asks to help when he sees me cleaning the house, washing the floors, doing laundry, or emptying the dishwasher. That’s what I love about Montessori parenting - it allows kids to do  big jobs and in turn makes them eager to help! 

He was over the moon when we gave him the @lovevery floor mop that actually works! He uses it daily now. The mopping pad is machine washable and you can refill the fluid container on it. I usually just do water and a drop of essential oils because he loves it when everything smells clean! 😜 

Definitely recommend! If you want to grab this mop for your little helper, it’s in the Storyteller Play Kit from Lovevery for 3 year olds. 

LlNK is in my bio to get FREE shipping! 💃🏼

#lovevery #loveverytoddler #loveverypartner #montessoriathome #montessoriplayroom #montessoritoddler
Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hol Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hole. 

Sometimes we outgrown relationships. Sometimes we realize someone else isn’t a good influence on our lives. Sometimes we realize we aren’t a good influence for someone else. Sometimes we need to let things go that aren’t good for us in order to grow. And that’s ok. 

Stop trying to sit at a table you are no longer welcome at. Just be yourself, focus on God, love your family and friends, and the right people will gravitate to you. ✌🏻 

#raisingsaints #momlife #motherhoodunplugged #selflovejourney #growingpains #selfcaresunday
When your toaster breaks from a power surge you ta When your toaster breaks from a power surge you take that as a sign that it’s time to upgrade! 🤪

It wasn’t hard to pick a new 4 slice toaster. As soon as I saw this one from @haden_usa I added it to my cart. I bought it from @lordandtaylor because it had the fastest shipping and I didn’t want to wait! 

No fancy electronics, screens, or extra features we don’t need. Just simple, straight forward functions and perfect results everytime. Plus it matches all my @cafeappliances too! 😂👍🏻

What do you think of this 4 slice toaster?! 

#toasters #kitchenappliances #kitchendesign #kitchendecor #whitekitchen #farmhousekitchen #farmhousestyle #whiteappliances
I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @en I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @enjoiya! 💃🏼 

The “Steffi” in green are the perfect boots for ushering in spring weather with their delicious vintage leather and worn-in look right out of the box. I love the chunky lug soles and inside zippers to get them on and off easily. 

These are the boots you’ll want to wear again and again. And again. 

Use my coupon code BALLARD20 to get 20% off your order! Find them on www.enjoiya.com

#leatherbooties #enjoiya #italianshoes #realmomstyle #momstyle #momstyletips
All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with the prices of eggs right now! 🤪 🐔 🥚 

Guess it’s ok to be a crazy chicken lady and have a homestead now! 🤣

#momlife #crazychickenlady #homesteadlife
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