8 Zero Waste Stores In Seattle Worth A Visit
From the Pike Place Market to the Space Needle, Seattle is stunning! Surrounded by water, mountains, and thousands of acres of parkland, the beauty of this place will never get boring.
Seattle is a huge hub for tech and tourism and is home to one of the country's oldest continuously operating farmer’s markets. It’s also home to some of the coolest zero waste stores, so let’s dive in!
Fun fact: Pike Place Market started due to overpriced onions in the 1960’s so the city created a public market where farmers could sell their produce directly to consumers for lower prices.
Our Top Picks For the Best Seattle Zero Waste Shops
Best zero waste stores in Seattle
What's a zero-waste store? And why consider shopping at one? There are so many great reasons! Head to the end of this post to read more about that!
If you are wondering where I can shop Zero Waste in Seattle, keep reading!
1. Public
This zero waste shop is an experience. Not only is it low-stress shopping and easy to do, but the store is also stunning. All their products are thoughtfully made and well-researched to ensure quality and no single-use plastic waste.
In her own life, the owner was working towards a lower-waste lifestyle. Most of it was trial and error until she found the right products that worked for her. Working in marketing, she knew there was a large gap in the market, so she created Public to fill that void.
Public offers you two ways to shop, you can purchase goods in-store, where you can bring your own refill container (clear jar), or you can shop online (free U.S shipping over $30).
I love that you can drop off your jars and have them filled while you run errands. Be sure to check out their DIY cleaning recipes. There are some helpful recipes on there!
What they offer:
- Items for reducing waste on the go, food waste, bath and body, and housekeeping
- Kids items
- Refill items: dish soap, oral care, personal products, hair care, oils, and laundry
Hours:
- Tue/Wed/Fri: 11 am – 6 pm
- Sat/Sun: 11 am – 5 pm
- Closed Mon/Thurs
2. Mimi’s
Mimi’s is a bulk pantry staple store that you bring your own container and fill up with the things you need, this is the ultimate way to get the zero waste pantry of your dreams! Co-founders heather and Berenice both have passions for zero waste living and wanted to create a store that would make it easier for others to do the same.
Heather was introduced to zero waste shopping from Scoop Marketplace and took the Scoop Intelligence course to bring this concept to her neighborhood in Seattle Berenice has always lived a minimalist lifestyle so naturally, she wanted to get on board with Mimi’s.
You can shop for Mimi’s both in-store and online. In-store, you will find high-quality organic goods such as beans, flour, and rice. You can also shop for refillable containers and everyday items like hairbrushes, bamboo toothbrushes, and kitchen utensils.
You can also shop for all of this online. However, you will need to pick it up after you order. Orders typically take 2 – 4 days to be ready.
What they offer:
- Refills for: Cooking and baking, herbs and spices, grains, dried fruit and nuts, chocolate and sweeteners, household products, skin and personal care, tea, and seeds.
- Refillable containers
- Kitchen supplies such as dish scrubbers, dish soap blocks, Swedish dishcloths and silicone baking mats
Hours:
- Monday: 4:30 – 8 pm
- Thrus/Fri/Sat: 11 am – 6 pm
- Sunday: 12 pm – 5 pm
- Tues/Wed: appointment only
3. The Naked Grocer
They call themselves a “waste-less” company because everything in their store is in either glass, paper, metal, or compostable packaging.
What I like about this shop is that it carries produce and other grocery items you need. The Naked Grocer prioritizes sustainability in everything they offer. They support responsible producers, reduce food waste, and source local products as much as possible.
As of right now, you can only shop in-store, but they are working on offering an online shop that is coming soon!
When you go to the shop, feel free to bring your own containers, they have a Tare Station where you can weigh your reusable containers and fill them up with the items you want. If you want to place a special order for larger quantities, they are ready and willing to facilitate that for you.
What they offer:
- Dairy products and eggs
- Tofu, fish, and meat
- Bakery goods
- Frozen fruit and prepared meals
- Natural beer and wine
- Cleaning supplies
- Body products
- A variety of bulk items
Hours:
- Mon – Fri: 11 am – 8:30 pm
- Sat/Sun: 9 am – 8:30 pm
4. Recology
This store has such a unique concept all the products sold at Recology are made from recycled or upcycled materials and designed to replace single-use items. They are 100% employee-owned, so their sense of community and commitment to those living in the area is a top priority.
They are more than just a shop. They provide recovery resources to eliminate waste and use a closed-loop system to repurpose waste. They divert organics and have transformed over 735,000 tons of food scraps, yard trimmings, and agricultural waste into compost, just as an example!
They have four locations you can shop at, and each location accepts hard-to-recycle items for collection. All their staff is well versed in recycling and can assist you with any questions you might have for them.
They carry a variety of items that are eco-friendly and sourced with only the highest standards. They carry brands like Abeego, Stasher, and Hydroflask. They also offer bulk goods where you can bring your containers and fill them up with the goods.
What they offer:
- Health and beauty
- Kids items
- Kitchen products
- Reusable water bottles
- Bulk goods (laundry detergent, shampoo, etc.)
- Gifts
Hours:
Open Tues – Sun: 10 am – 5 pm
5. Dandelion Botanical Company
This is a natural apothecary that has been open since 1996. They specialize in quality botanicals and only buy ethical and organic options (when available).
They have been recently nominated as one of America's 5 best herb stores. They have also recently paired with the Olympic Peninsula Organic farming community to bring local herbs and products to you.
They offer wonderful classes you can take to learn more about DIY skincare and seasonal herbalism, the prices are very fair for the classes, and you can have a chance to learn from people who specialize in apothecary.
You can shop either in person over the phone (for pickup orders) or online, if you are going to phone in an order, you can look up their products on their website to see what you need! Have a furry friend?
They can assist you with herbs to assist your animals. They recently helped two goats with avoiding kidney stones through the help of various herbs.
What they offer:
- Bulk herbs
- Women’s Health
- Essential oils
- Flower essences
- Homeopathies
- Chinese patent formulas
- Tea
- Culinary needs such as salts and spices
- Candles
- Bath products
Hours:
- Wed-Mon: 10 am – 6 pm
- Closed Tues
6. Eco Collective
I love this brand and what it stands for. Genevieve and Marimar bonded over their shared zero waste living journeys and having an open dialogue about life after trauma. Genevieve recalls clinging to just being able to wash her hair and how the simplest self-care task made her feel grounded.
Both decided to carve out their niche in the sustainability world and create the Eco Collective to unite self-care and sustainability. You can find them at local farmers markets in Seattle, and now they have expanded to online sales.
All of their products are zero waste and come in plastic-free packaging. They also ship your items carbon-neutral. All of the packaging you will find with the Eco Collective is recyclable, compostable, or can be reused. The products they choose are vegan and safe for people and the planet.
What they offer:
- Bath and body products
- Skin
- Hair
- Stationary
- Cleaning products
Location: The brand is in Seattle and has its warehouse there (5309 22nd Ave NW Suite B, Seattle, WA, 98107). Because it is an online business, it is open 24/7.
7. Out Of the Box Eco Store
Founder Aline moved from Pairs to Seattle with her three young children and when she completed her move, she felt guilty over all the stuff she had accumulated and all the cardboard boxes sitting around.
That is when she discovered recycling and made her first piece of furniture out of those boxes, from that she had a passion to continue with home décor but in a sustainable way.
When the pandemic hit, she was finding all kinds of ways to adapt to the situation and still honor her low-waste living, she recalled as a kid, a van dropping off groceries and other items her family needed, and then launched Out Of The Box.
There are three ways to shop this eco store: request the mobile shop for all your refillery needs (A refill shop on wheels is so cool!), online (they deliver), or you can shop in person. Check out their event calendar on the website to find locations the van might be at!
What they offer:
- Home care
- Personal care
- Pet products
- Laundry
- Cleaning
- Starter kits
Hours:
- Wed: 1 pm – 5 pm
- Fri/Sat: 11 am – 5 pm
8. Town & Country
I love a good family business, and the history of Town & Country will warm your heart, founders, and brothers John and Mo Nakata and their friend Ed Loverich all grew up together near Seattle. As young kids, they would play together and learn about each other’s cultures. This created a passion and business partnership to open the first supermarket in the area.
Town & Country is dedicated to bringing you quality and organic food from various cultures in one spot. Driven by environmental influence and knowledge, they have created the ultimate shopping experience where you don’t necessarily feel like just a consumer.
They offer online and in-person shopping for their goods. They have a vast variety of bulk goods, organic food and drinks, and delivery service if you rather your groceries come to you!
On their website, you can also check out curated recipes that are featured and any specials they might be having. You can shop in six locations, but the Ballard location is right in Seattle.
What they offer:
- Asian foods
- Bakery Items
- Bulk goods
- Beverages including beer, wine, and spirits
- Frozen foods
- Dairy and deli items
- Meat, seafood, and sushi
- Health and body care
Hours:
- Open every day: 7 am – 10 pm
- Online orders daily: 8 am – 6 pm
What is a zero waste shop?
When this concept first came out, I was blown away. What a fantastic idea to have a store that you can go to and refill containers with items you want or shop for items that come in recyclable materials.
The whole concept of zero waste stores is to reduce the waste in our everyday life, if you notice when you go grocery shopping, everything and I mean EVERYTHING, is wrapped in plastic or has some sort of plastic on it. When sourcing zero waste, always consider the 5 R’s, which are refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot.
Why shop at a zero waste shop?
This one is easy! It really just comes down to the waste and doing our part to reduce single-use plastic waste and other general waste that comes with shopping. Approximately 36% of all plastics produced are used in packaging and only about 25% of plastic is recycled properly.
This is why using a zero waste store when you can is a great alternative to big box grocery stores, plus as a bonus, a lot of the time zero waste stores offer cheaper items (buying in bulk is a great way to lower cost). You can find some great zero waste gift ideas and daily-use items that you can swap for a greener option.
Be sure to check out some of our other great blogs on zero waste shopping in places like Alberta, Nova Scotia, Toronto, Quebec, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, BC, Chicago, and NYC.
Final words on zero waste shopping in Seattle
Seattle is innovative, so it’s natural that you can find the future in shopping here! Want to check these stores out? Type in your browser “best zero waste store near me in Seattle” and you will find one of these close to you!
Shopping zero waste doesn’t have to be hard; just like bringing your reusable grocery bags, remember to keep some reusable containers in your car and head out and shop. What place will you try first?
Going to Seattle or living there? Let us know what some of your favorite zero waste stores are! Don’t forget to give this article a share!
