Eco Friendly Stores Are A Necessary Part Of Our Future
IT’S TIME TO MAKE A SWITCH.
It’s time to make a switch
EVERY TIME WE TURN on the news, there’s an environmental disaster going on in one part of the globe: giant icebergs breaking off Antarctica due to global warming, fires in the Amazon forest, desertification, and the general environmental degradation of the earth.
We need not go far to see these issues. In the Philippine Islands itself, the environment is in dire straits. That whole Boracay debacle, companies dumping waste water into the Pasig River, and lest we forget, our country is leading in plastic pollution, what with our dependence on sachets and other single-use products.
These plastic products will eventually end up in the ocean, contributing to the poor health and state of the planet.
We should change our daily routine and be mindful of what we use every day. As much as possible, avoid single-use plastics, bring your own cups or containers when you go to a coffee shop, and refuse straws when dining out.
The cynical will say that this won’t do much in terms of affecting the global environmental issue, but we beg to disagree. One by one, little by little, each change will eventually cascade into the bigger picture of the issue.
With this in mind, we went out and explored the different options available for the aspiring eco-warrior. To our surprise and delight, there are now numerous shops and businesses that make it easy for one to start helping out the environment.
Loop.
Loop, located in Tomas Morato Avenue, is the brainchild of Sip PH, the people responsible for the now ubiquitous steel
straws in the market. We marveled at the items on sale, and of the fact that it’s in QC where there’s an absolute dearth of eco stores and healthy food store options.
Inside, one can find all sorts of eco friendly items that can help buyers contribute to the betterment of the environment. There are reusable cutlery, steel straws from Sip, shampoo bars, and more.
“We curate our items here in Loop,” shared Angela Del Rosario of Loop., “We have local and international brands that offer sustainable and environment-conscious products to our customers. We like to say that we’re a collective of products that does no harm.”
Inside, one can see how simple changes can contribute to the bigger picture of sustainability. We saw cloth makeup removers, much preferable to cotton pads that are thrown in the trash when used. The shampoo bars are also a great alternative to sachets and plastic bottles we find in the supermarket.
There are currently more than 20 brands in Loop., according to Angela, but the collective is looking to increase that number in the coming months.
Eco Babe
The online store Eco Babe sells collapsible cups, reusable straws, bamboo toothbrushes, organic soaps and shampoos, and menstrual cups.
“Eco Babe PH debuted as The Switch PH. It began in 2018 when I was slowly being introduced to organic living and reducing waste. I was only selling bags from Bali, Indonesia then,” shares Irish Kate Reyes of Eco Babe PH. “Eventually, I also became interested in selling bamboo toothbrushes, reusable straws, organic bath soaps, and then menstrual cups. I find each item extremely helpful and ethical and I thought about sharing my experiences to my friends. I began accepting preorders in my personal accounts before creating a dedicated brand.”
The store is notable for its very laudable program, the buy-one-give-one system for menstrual cups. For every piece sold on the website, another woman receives another.
When asked how the Philippines is responding to the whole green friendly, natural living trend, Irish is optimistic. According to her, Filipinos have woken up to the issue of plastic pollution in the country, and have started to become aware of the role of plastic, packaging, and manufacturing in the degradation of the environment.
“More and more Filipinos are discovering ways to reduce waste and are learning to create their own products or deliberately finding ethical options. I believe we are ready to adapt more, because we are already on it.”
Real Food
Real Food in BGC is one of the newest Healthy Food stores in the metro. The store is the brainchild of Nicole Fandiño, who endeavored to create a space where people can shop for organic foodstuff and healthy snacks.
She partnered with likeminded friends Bea Lhuillier, Katrina Mañosa, and Yvette Almendral to create their first showroom in Alabang three years ago, and now, they have their newest store in Bonifacio Global City.
“We’re excited about bringing Real Food to the community here in BGC,” shares Nicole. “We have a great following in our Molito branch in Alabang, but for a lot of people, Alabang is simply too far away a trek. So, when this great space in BGC became available, we had to take it.”
The store is located (almost hidden, in fact) on the corner of 5th Avenue and 25th Street in BGC, in a two-floor building. The store has floor to ceiling glass walls, the better to let in natural light.
The interiors are cozy, intimate, and welcoming. There are plants, wood accents, and the ambiance is accentuated by the colors and smell of fresh produce. A mural at the main entrance reads “Keep it Real.”
Inside, one can find a plethora of organic and healthy food. There’s vegan non-dairy ice cream, organic chicken breasts, and huge bulk bins, wherein customers can buy almonds, cashews, and other produce.
There are also organic tomato sauces, coconut cider vinegar, black vinegar, granola bars, dried fruit snacks, and more. They also sell hard-to-find adlai, rare coffee blends from local sources, and organic cheeses.
“A lot of people are intimidated by our store. They think I’m not going in there, but when people come in and see our prices, they know they are going for a healthy choice, and then they feel good that they went for the healthier choice.”
We need to act, do our part, and choose to live in a healthy, sustainable world. One small step at a time, but each pace contributes to an eventual bigger impact on our planet, and ourselves. It’s time to change.