Is California dreamin’ of the days when it becomes fully zero waste?
That’s probably a long way away yet. But the good news is that The Golden State is helping to lead the way when it comes to sustainability.
Whether you’re making the transition to zero waste in California or you own a small business and want to learn how to become more eco-friendly, we’ve rounded up the best zero waste stores and places in California.
Let’s take a look!
The Nada Shop
The Nada Shop’s premise is simple: “Low waste living made easy.”
To that end, this Californian zero waste store sells everyday essentials, including body care products and your typical household products. They’re all sustainably packaged, many of them are refillable and reusable, and you can shop in-store or order online.
What else? Gift cards are available.
Online shopping? Yes.
Location: 937 S Coast Hwy 101 suite c-110, Encinitas, CA 92024
NatureHub page
Visit The Nada Shop
Sustain LA
Sustain LA has a huge vision: To create a space where zero waste events are held, zero waste products are refilled, and people come together as a community to help our planet heal.
And all of this is taking place right here, in LA.
Female-owned and female-led, Sustain LA is here to help you on your own zero waste journey. If you’re new to the whole concept, why not join founder Leslie VanKeuren Campbell and the team to find out more?
What else? You can pop into the store for refills!
Online shopping? Yes.
Location: 5214 Monte Vista St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
NatureHub page
Visit Sustain LA
The Source Zero
The Source Zero sells reusables, refills, as well as locally sourced goods. Specializing in soap refills, the store brings together a wealth of useful and essential goods from a variety of local women’s small businesses.
So when you support The Source Zero, you support the planet — and you also support female-led businesses whose values and ethics fit in with a more sustainable lifestyle.
The store includes bathroom goods, kitchen goods, cleaning goods, and products for your pets!
What else? Once the business grows, a slice of the profits will go towards an in-the-works animal sanctuary.
Online shopping? Of course.
Location: 60 N San Pedro St Suite #30, San Jose, CA 95110
NatureHub page
Visit The Source Zero
BYO Long Beach
BYO Long Beach primarily specializes in refill products, such as glass jars, glass bottles and detergent pods. However, they also stock bathroom products, including soaps and toothbrushes, as well as everyday essentials that you may have forgotten can be zero waste. These include tea ball infusers and even toothpaste itself.
And of course they sell stainless steel straws! Gift cards are available, too.
What else? BYO Long Beach is only open 5 hours per day from 11am until 4pm so take note! However, there are also three stores in California!
Online shopping? Yes.
Locations: 431 E 1st St, Long Beach, CA 90802; 40 N Marina Dr, Long Beach, CA 90803; 3805 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807
NatureHub page
Visit BYO Long Beach
Refill Madness
The clue is in the name with this zero waste store/soap refillery in California: Refill Madness offers full service refills for a wide range of products. Curbside drop-off is available.
They also sell locally sourced/made products, including kitchen products, bathroom products and everyday essentials.
Family-owned, they actually have two stores in California — one in Sacramento and one in Sonoma.
What else? They have a donation center onsite!
Online shopping? No.
Locations: 500 W Napa St # 540, Sonoma, CA 95476; 1828 29th St, Sacramento, CA 95816
NatureHub page
Visit Refill Madness
Fillgood
Fillgood (refill good/feel good, get it?) was founded by a lady who was dumbstruck when she took a recycling class in San Francisco and learned exactly how much plastic we chuck away each day.
She created her store not simply to encourage more recycling — but to instead encourage more reusing.
It’s a simple concept that, thanks to zero waste stores like this, is catching on with Californian’s. At Fillgood, you can refill your bottles seven days a week, as well as buy all kinds of eco-friendly essentials, from baby products to bathroom products.
What else? You can buy bulk food here.
Online shopping? Yes.
Location: 1579a Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707
EcoNow
EcoNow is a refiller and zero waste store that has not one, not two but three locations in California: Costa Mesa, Anaheim and Downtown Riverside. You can pop in with your containers and fill up on hygiene and cleaning products, and you can also buy personal care and home essentials.
Alternatively, you can request a home delivery. You can also catch EcoNow at local farmer’s markets and grab yourself a gift card!
What else? Free shipping is available on orders above $25
Online shopping? You bet.
Locations: 207 W Center Street Promenade, Anaheim, CA 92805; 3521 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501; 2930 Bristol St #A112, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Wild Minimalist
Wild Minimalist is another zero waste store that specializes in sustainable, everyday essentials. Here, you can buy beauty products, bathroom products, baby products, cleaning products, and more.
But what we really love about Wild Minimalist are their “zero waste kits” that include a zero waste starter kit and a useful zero waste kitchen cleaning kit. Moreover, they’re currently offering discounts on these kits!
You can also grab yourself a gift card, while founder Lily Cameron’s book, Simply Sustainable, is available to purchase.
What else? The website has an educational blog that gives tips and tricks on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
Online shopping: Yes.
Location: 1320 4th St, San Rafael, CA 94901
NatureHub page
Visit Wild Minimalist
For more zero waste spots, be sure to check out NatureHub! 😉
