‘Start where you can’
Wholesum Refillery gives the planet a break
“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero-waste perfectly. We millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
The above quote is attributed to zero-waste chef and blogger Anne-Marie Bonneau, who has lived plastics free since 2011. It’s also the guiding philosophy behind a new retail outlet in Kentville. Wholesum Refillery is a lowwaste store designed to reduce single-use packaging by allowing customers to refill their containers.
“You only have to buy what you need,” explains co-owner Rachael Butcher. “If you only need half a bottle you don’t have to buy an entire jug.”
Wholesum Refillery opened on Nov. 27, 2021 by Butcher and co-owner Krista McDonald at 19 Aberdeen St. in Kentville. The shop offers more than 35 bulk products for bath, body and home, in addition to a curated selection of Canadian products that support the low-waste movement.
By saving their containers and bringing them in for refill, consumers are not only being environmentally responsible, they are also saving money, Butchers points out.
“When you buy a bottled product you’re paying for that bottle, every single time. The cost is built into the product,” she explains. “And then when it’s empty that bottle has to go somewhere.”
Human beings are creatures of habit, and so the move to a low-waste regimen does require some effort and habit changing on the part of consumers, Butcher notes.
“You have to remember to clean your jars and then to bring them with you to the store. So, it requires a conscious effort.”
She encourages consumers to improvise with containers and to re-commission everything from mason jars to empty juice bottles and other types of vessels. If you forget your container you can purchase a new one at the store.
Many of the products at Wholesum Refillery come from Quebec, as that province is a leader in refill production. But the shop also carries a number of local brands, including Verv skin products from New Minas, Cosmic Tree from Wolfville and Down East Cleaning Products based out of Dartmouth.
Before moving to Nova Scotia last summer, Butcher worked for 20 years at an auto parts manufacturing plant in Woodstock, Ont.
She and McDonald have been best friends since elementary school, and McDonald had been living in Nova Scotia for more than a decade.
“I had been coming here to visit Krista every year and so last year I made the decision to make the move,” Butcher says. “I love Kentville. It’s amazing to be this close to the ocean and the town is really supportive of small businesses.”
People are realizing the importance of reducing waste and mitigating our impact on the environment. While it may seem like single person on a budget is not in a position to save the planet, collective action is what will make a difference. Butcher points out we all have a part to play in reducing the amount of waste that ends up in our oceans and landfills.
“It’s so important that everybody recognizes the situation our planet is in,” she says. “Start small and start where you can.”