A zero waste store is a store that promotes reuse and recycling. Most of the items sold are plastic free with very little packaging, which means you don't have to throw very much away- hence the name zero waste! For example, every time you buy a roll of conventional paper towels at the store, the paper towels come packaged in plastic film. When you open your paper towels, that plastic film gets thrown in the trash. So many of the things we currently buy are contributing to our plastic problem and our landfill problem. All of these amazing brands in our store are trying to change that!

Yes, we do! And we're proud of it! We ship using recycled paper packing materials or recycled biodegradable packing peanuts. The packing peanuts are made from corn starch or wheat and can be dissolved in water- it's a fun experiment to do with kids! We also use paper tape and upcycled shipping boxes whenever possible.

Yes, we do! Choose in-store pick up at checkout and your order will be ready for you within 2 hours.

We offer free shipping on all orders over $100 to the continental U.S.

At this time, we do not ship internationally.

Your order will be boxed within 1-3 days after your order is placed. You will receive an email with tracking information once your order has shipped. It should arrive within 5-7 business days after it is shipped.

Due to the nature of our products, and the fact that many come unpackaged, we do not accept returns or exchanges. Please see our refund policy for a full explanation here.

We hope that you do! You can bring in any type of container to refill at our store. As long as it's clean and empty, we accept all types of containers including plastic!

Reach out to us through our contact page or email us at hello@theunwasteshop.com any time and we will get back to you!

It's easier than you think. Bring a clean container from home (or grab one of ours in-store), weigh it,, fill it with as much or as little as you want, and we weigh it again at checkout. You're only charged for the product. That's it! No single-use packaging, no waste, just what you actually need. Come back when you're running low and do it all over again.

Quite a bit, actually. Cleaning and body care staples like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, dish soap, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner, face wash, toothpaste tabs, and more. Plus pantry items including organic olive oil, coffee, honey, flour, spices, grains, and local snacks. Check out our full refill menu for the complete list with brands, scents, and per-ounce pricing.

Either works! We encourage you to bring a clean, empty container from home — glass, aluminum, or even plastic are all welcome. If you don't have one handy, we carry containers in-store that are made for exactly this kind of reuse. Just make sure whatever you bring is empty and clean before filling.

Refills are available in-store only at our two Chicago locations: West Loop (1108 W. Madison St.) and Beverly (1915 W 103rd St.). If you're not local, our online shop carries a great selection of low-waste products that ship plastic-free right to your door. We are working on an option to make this available online as well! Stay tuned for more on that. 🙂

Every product in our store earns its spot. We look for brands that prioritize meaningful sustainability: plastic-free and/or minimal packaging, clean and transparent ingredients, ethical sourcing, and real environmental impact. We also only carry products we believe work as well or better than conventional alternatives and will genuinely add value to your home and daily routine. If you ever want to know why a specific product made it onto our shelves, just ask us. We love talking about this stuff.

Most of the products we carry are both cruelty-free and vegan, and we make it a priority when selecting brands. That said, a small number items do contain natural animal-derived ingredients like beeswax or honey, which we carry when they're ethically and sustainably sourced. If a vegan option matters to you for a specific product, reach out and we'll help you find the right fit.

Yes, and we actively seek them out. You'll find products across our store and refill station that carry certifications like USDA Organic, Certified B Corporation, Leaping Bunny, Fair Trade, Non-GMO, and cruelty-free designations. These aren't just labels to us, they're a meaningful signal that a brand is doing the right work behind the scenes and putting people and planet over profit.

Yes! Just enter your recipient's address in the shipping field at checkout and your own in the billing section. Don't forget to include a gift message in the order notes so they know who it's from.

Absolutely. Add your message in the order notes at checkout and we'll make sure it's included with your order. We will write that on a hand-written note from you to them!

We do! Unwaste Shop gift cards are available online and make a great gift for anyone who's curious about low-waste living but isn't sure where to start. Let them pick what speaks to them, shipped plastic-free as always.

We accept all major credit and debit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover as well as Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal (online only), and Shop Pay (online only).

We move quickly to get orders packed and out the door, so we can't guarantee changes once an order is placed. If you need to make an adjustment, email us at hello@theunwasteshop.com as soon as possible with your order number and what you'd like to change, and we'll do our best to help before it ships. We generally ship same-day, so please do so ASAP. Once it’s gone, there’s not much we can do!

That's on us to make right. Send an email to hello@theunwasteshop.com with your order number and a photo of the issue, and we'll take it from there. Please know once it’s in the hands of the carrier, we don’t have much visibility or control. We will do our best to take care of you!

Your order arrives in an upcycled cardboard box packed with reused paper materials. The boxes are what we receive our products in for our shop! This is often packed with brown paper or biodegradable packing peanuts made from cornstarch or wheat. (You can dissolve those packing peanuts in water, which is a genuinely fun experiment to try with kids.) We use kraft paper tape throughout. We also partner with one of our favorite local non-profits, EcoShip Chicago as a collection point and get to reuse materials that are collected onsite. EcoShip collects the community’s gently used shipping materials and redistributes to local businesses like ours who get to reuse those materials for cheap (or free) instead of having to purchase virgin materials. Every once in a while for a small order, we will reuse a plastic bubble mailer like you get with Amazon. While this may include plastic, it’s a reused material that is getting another life and is the most efficient way to ship that specific order. We then suggest you reuse this at home for your needs in the future. Reuse, reuse, reuse!

All of our shipping materials are designed to be recycled, composted, or reused. The cardboard box and paper packing materials can be reused for so many purposes. Think building forts, paper for drawing, boxes for shipping your own gifts,or save and wrap Christmas presents in them. If you can’t find a way to reuse the materials, they can go straight into your recycling bin. The packing peanuts can be dissolved in water or composted.

Yes, quite a few. Throughout our product selection you'll find items made with compostable or biodegradable materials, from cleaning tools to personal care products. Check individual product pages for details, or reach out and we'll point you in the right direction.

We have two Chicago locations. Our West Loop store is at 1108 W. Madison St. (312-804-9730) and our Beverly location is at 1915 W 103rd St. (708-285-0105). For current hours, give us a call or check our location pages. Be mindful that hours may shift around holidays and events.

We do! We regularly host in-store events focused on sustainable living, low-waste swaps, and community connection. We truly love being a part of the community and having a third-space for community to gather. Our events are a great way to shop, learn, and meet other people who care about living a zero waste lifestyle. Check out our Events page for what's coming up. Be sure to check the hosting location before you register!

Yes! We partner with Terracycle to give hard-to-recycle items a second life instead of a landfill. Stop by either of our Chicago locations to drop off eligible items. Head to our Terracycle page for details on what's accepted.

Right here at The Unwaste Shop! We have two Chicago locations: West Loop at 1108 W. Madison St. and Beverly at 1915 W 103rd St. Both carry a full selection of plastic-free and low-waste products for your home and beyond. You can also shop our full eco-friendly product catalogue online with plastic-free shipping on every order.

Both of our Chicago locations have in-store refill stations where you can bring any clean container from home (glass, aluminum, or plastic) and fill it with exactly what you need. We carry refillable shampoo, conditioner, body wash, dish soap, hand soap, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner, and more, all priced by the ounce. You only pay for the product, not the packaging. No membership or account required. You can join our rewards program if you like though!

Zero waste is the idea of rethinking how we consume and choosing products as well as habits that send as little as possible to the landfill. In practice, it doesn't mean producing literally zero trash (that's nearly impossible). It means making intentional swaps, buying less overall, choosing reusable over single-use, and being thoughtful about what you bring into your home. It's a direction, not a finish line, and every small change adds up.

The key is to start small and build from there. Pick one room or one routine and begin swapping things out as they run out. There's no need to throw away perfectly good products just to replace them with sustainable ones. When your shampoo runs out, try a shampoo bar. When your sponge is on the outs, swap it for an eco-friendly, washable sponge. Gradual, intentional swaps are more sustainable than a dramatic overhaul that burns you out by week two. Make it something attainable, just like when you build other habits!

Start with the swaps that are easy, effective, and immediately satisfying. A few of our favorites for first-timers: a bamboo toothbrush, reusable beeswax wraps instead of plastic wrap, a shampoo bar, a safety razor, bamboo toilet paper, compostable dish brushes, and a refillable hand or dish soap. These are all low-commitment, low-cost entry points that replace things you're already buying on repeat, which means you start saving money pretty quickly, too.

It has a reputation for being pricey, and some products do cost more upfront. But the math usually flips over time. A safety razor costs more than a singular disposable option, but replacement blades are extremely affordable and the razor will last your lifetime. A shampoo bar outlasts two or three plastic bottles. And refilling by the ounce means you only pay for what you need.Often since you’re not paying for the packaging of the product, you save on each fill. For reference, we find pricing for products will be comparable to what you would see in Target. Zero waste living isn't about spending more. It's about spending smarter.

The biggest savers tend to be the ones replacing products you buy over and over again. Safety razors with replaceable blades, shampoo and conditioner bars, refillable cleaning products, reusable paper towel alternatives, and cloth produce bags all pay for themselves relatively quickly. Refilling at our in-store stations is particularly cost-effective — you're paying by the ounce for exactly what you need, with no markup for packaging or branding. Over the course of a year, these swaps can add up to significant savings.

Many are actually gentler than conventional alternatives since they tend to skip the synthetic fragrances, sulfates, parabens, and preservatives that are common irritants. That said, sensitive skin is personal and what works for one person might not for another. We carry unscented and hypoallergenic options across our personal care selection and refill station, and we're happy to help you find the right fit.

Generally, yes, and that's a big part of why people make the switch in the first place. Conventional cleaning products often contain harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and compounds that can irritate skin, eyes, and airways, especially for little ones and animals who spend a lot of time on floors and surfaces. The cleaning products we carry use biodegradable, plant-based formulas and skip those ingredients entirely. Everything in-store is going to be safe for all in your home. One thing to note is there are certain essential oils that can cause issues with pets if not diluted properly. Though all of the ones we carry in-store should be perfectly fine, please review based on the pets in your home. If you have specific sensitivities or concerns, reach out and we'll help you find the right fit.

Greenwashing is when a brand markets itself as sustainable without much substance behind the claim. It's everywhere in this category, and it's one of the reasons we're selective about what we carry. A few things to watch for:

• Vague language like "natural," "eco-friendly," or "green" with no explanation. Did you know there’s no regulation on using these words on packaging? Wow, right?!
• Sustainability claims on one product from a brand with otherwise harmful practices
• Packaging that looks earthy but is still plastic
• Certifications you've never heard of that don't mean much.

When in doubt, look for third-party certifications like B Corp, USDA Organic, EWG Verified, MADE SAFE, or Fair Trade, and ask what's actually in the product. If you see something vague, that’s a clue that the company may not be transparent and might be greenwashing. We do this work on your behalf for everything we carry, and we're always happy to explain why a product made it onto our shelves.