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Zero Waste Bulk: Waterloo's Package-Free Grocery

Help us open Waterloo's first zero waste grocery store! SHOP IN STORE OR ONLINE.

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Zero Waste Bulk: Waterloo's Package-Free Grocery

Zero Waste Bulk: Waterloo's Package-Free Grocery

Zero Waste Bulk: Waterloo's Package-Free Grocery

Zero Waste Bulk: Waterloo's Package-Free Grocery

Zero Waste Bulk: Waterloo's Package-Free Grocery

Help us open Waterloo's first zero waste grocery store! SHOP IN STORE OR ONLINE.

Help us open Waterloo's first zero waste grocery store! SHOP IN STORE OR ONLINE.

Help us open Waterloo's first zero waste grocery store! SHOP IN STORE OR ONLINE.

Help us open Waterloo's first zero waste grocery store! SHOP IN STORE OR ONLINE.

Ellin Park
Ellin Park
Ellin Park
Ellin Park
1 Campaign |
Waterloo, Canada
$11,763 USD $11,763 USD 198 backers
111% of $10,570 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Overview
We know it can be a challenge to reduce waste in an over-packaged, throw-away society. At Zero Waste Bulk, we want to make it easier for you to live more sustainably by providing a convenient one-stop shop for package-free, plastic-free, local & organic groceries. We've already secured our dream location in Uptown Waterloo, but we need your help to get us ready to open our doors. Funds will go towards necessary store equipment, renovations, and initial inventory. Opening fall 2018!

Who We Are

Over a year and a half ago, my partner Kevin and I began working towards a zero waste lifestyle when we realized we were producing too much trash. In Waterloo Region, the average person produces 675 lbs of waste a year. That’s the weight of approximately 1,800 bananas plus 14,000 disposable coffee cups. Much of our waste consists of food packaging, food waste, and single-use disposables. Plastics are also a huge problem as they cannot truly be recycled, only downcycled into inferior quality products, and are left to contaminate the environment once they can no longer be recycled.

 

Now, we have been able to drastically reduce the amount of waste we produce by making small changes to our habits. However, trying to source products free of packaging and plastic had us travelling to numerous outlets just to complete our groceries. Wanting a one-stop shop to help us reduce our waste, we founded Zero Waste Bulk, Waterloo’s first zero waste grocery store.

 

Introducing Zero Waste Bulk

Our mission at Zero Waste Bulk is to make it easier to live more sustainably by offering package-free goods, sourcing locally & organically, and offering plastic free alternatives whenever we can. Our products will be free of palm oil and primarily plant-based to further reduce our ecological footprint.

 

At Zero Waste Bulk, you can expect to find…

  • Bulk foods (e.g. nuts, grains, beans, candy)
  • Bulk liquids on tap (e.g. cooking oils, vinegars, maple syrup)
  • Bulk soaps (e.g. shampoo, cleaners, detergents)
  • Freshly baked bread
  • Local produce
  • Package-free frozen foods
  • Sustainable alternatives to everyday items (e.g. safety razors)
  • A container return program for milk, yogurt, and ready-to-eat foods packaged in glass containers

We’ll even have bulk toothpaste that you can pump into your own reusable containers!

 

Our BYOC Program

BYOC = Bring Your Own Container!

At Zero Waste Bulk, customers will be encouraged to bring their own reusable containers to fill up on bulk goods. Forgot your own containers? We’ll have sanitized reusable containers for you to grab and fill available for a deposit and paper bags that you can purchase at a small cost.

 

Location & Next Steps

As many of you know, we have been looking for a location for Zero Waste Bulk for quite some time now, and you have been waiting patiently with us as we searched for the right place. We’re excited to share that we have recently secured a location for our storefront at 110 King St S in Uptown Waterloo, but we need some help to cover our startup costs as we get ready to open our doors.

 

What We Need

While we have secured the funds to cover most of our startup costs, the money raised by this campaign will help us equip, renovate, and stock our store while minimizing our reliance on interest heavy loans. We are aiming to raise at least $15,000 with this crowdfunding campaign. While our hope is to exceed this goal, your contributions will still be put towards required equipment and initial inventory, even if we don’t meet our campaign goal.

 

Examples of equipment we will need:

  • Fridges x 3 (just one produce fridge will cost over $7,000!)
  • Freezer
  • Bulk product containers
  • Shelving
  • Product tables
  • Electronic scales
  • Kitchen equipment (e.g. Vitamix, food processor, prep table)
 

What You Get

To get you excited and help you with your own zero waste journey, we’ve put together some sweet rewards packages for our backers.

 

We are offering everything from stainless steel straws to tickets to DIY workshops, but there are a few rewards we want to highlight. These include Earth Points and invitations to Zero Waste Bulk’s pre-launch store party. By registering an account with us (which you can do now to set up paperless receipts in advance), you will be able to collect Earth Points with every purchase. As you accumulate Earth Points, you will be able to spend your Earth Points on items featured in our Rewards Catalogue. Secondly, some of our rewards packages will include two invitations to our pre-launch store party where you can enjoy delicious plant-based foods provided by us and be amongst the first to shop at Zero Waste Bulk!

 

For more information on what each rewards package includes, click on the package of interest. 

Some packages will have an in-store pickup option. If you choose this option, the shipping costs will be returned to you when you pick up your items in store.

If you simply want to make a contribution without getting something in return, click the “BACK IT” button. This option will allow us to put more of the funds towards the store.

 

Online Store

In addition to our brick and mortar storefront, we'll be launching an online store where you can purchase sustainable alternatives to everyday items such as safety razors, floss refills, and package-free stainless steel straws. Eventually we want to expand to have have online purchasing of bulk foods in compostable packaging with shipping available across Canada and potentially the states.

 

Other Ways You Can Help

Spread the word about us and our crowdfunding campaign! Share our campaign link on social media, and tell everyone you know that we're coming to Uptown Waterloo (and tell them to start saving their jars)!

 

Our Impact

By supporting us, you will help support the many local businesses we will be partnering up with, reduce environmental pollution, and reduce food waste by being able to buy only what you need (even if that means buying only one tablespoon of an ingredient)! We also go further and work with our manufacturers and suppliers to reduce waste up the supply chain, encouraging our partners to switch to more sustainable packaging practises and setting up container reuse systems when we can.

 

At Zero Waste Bulk, we also want to give back. One initiative we have recently launched is The KW Straw Project. The aim of the project is to reduce the number of single use straws served at local eateries in Kitchener-Waterloo. For every reusable straw purchased at our in-store location when we open, we will put a stainless steel straw towards our reusable straw fund for local eateries to use. We have already kicked off The KW Straw Project by supplying two local cafes (both Settlement Co. locations) with our reusable straws.

 

Risks & Challenges

The main challenge we are expecting to face regarding our store launch is when we will be able to open our doors. Our building is currently being renovated from the inside out, but we will be doing our best to open this fall.

 

THANK YOU

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Whether you are helping to fund us or just cheering us on, we couldn’t do this without your support. We can’t wait to welcome you to our store!

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Choose your Perk

Good Karma!

Good Karma!

Currency Conversion $11 USD
$15 CAD
Every contribution counts. Thank you for helping us get started!
Included Items
  • A Thank You
  • Good Karma!
Estimated Shipping
September 2018
2 claimed
Goodbye Plastic Straws

Goodbye Plastic Straws

Currency Conversion $18 USD
$25 CAD
Say farewell to disposable plastic straws. With these durable stainless steel straws, you can look classy and save the planet at the same time. In store pick-up available. Shipping costs will be returned with the pick-up option.
Included Items
  • Stainless Steel Straw (2)
  • Straw Cleaning Brush
  • In-Store Pickup Option
Estimated Shipping
September 2018
17 claimed
Ships to United States of America, Canada
$30 Gift Certificate

$30 Gift Certificate

Currency Conversion $21 USD
$30 CAD
Get prepared to shop in store or online with this $30 gift certificate for Zero Waste Bulk.
Included Items
  • $30 Gift Certificate
Estimated Shipping
October 2018
44 claimed
Social Media Shoutout

Social Media Shoutout

Currency Conversion $25 USD
$35 CAD
Do you have a business you'd like to promote? Or want your 15 minutes of fame? Get this perk to get a shoutout from us on social media!
Included Items
  • Social Media Shoutout
Estimated Shipping
September 2018
4 claimed
Zero Waste Pearly Whites

Zero Waste Pearly Whites

Currency Conversion $35 USD
$50 CAD
With a bamboo toothbrush and biodegradable silk floss in a reloadable glass dispenser, you can minimize your waste while keeping up your oral hygiene. Shipping costs will be returned with in-store pickup! *Vegan floss (corn PLA) option available, but there will be a long wait for this as it is in the R&D stage.
Included Items
  • Stainless Steel Straw w/ Brush
  • Brush Naked Bamboo Toothbrush
  • Flosspot Natural Silk Floss
  • In-Store Pickup Option
Estimated Shipping
October 2018
20 claimed
Ships to Canada, United States of America
$75 Gift Certificate

$75 Gift Certificate

Currency Conversion $53 USD
$75 CAD
Get prepared to shop in store or online with this $75 gift certificate for Zero Waste Bulk.
Included Items
  • $75 Gift Certificate
Estimated Shipping
October 2018
45 claimed
The Loyal Supporter

The Loyal Supporter

Currency Conversion $70 USD
$100 CAD
Show your support for Waterloo’s first zero waste grocery store with our reusable cotton tote (in-store pickup). You will also get two invites to Zero Waste Bulk’s pre-launch store party! In addition, you will receive *1,000* Earth Points which you can spend on products in our Rewards Catalogue upon joining our free loyalty program.
Included Items
  • Organic Cotton Tote
  • Invitation to Pre-Launch Party (2)
  • *1,000* Earth Points
Estimated Shipping
October 2018
17 claimed
$150 Gift Certificate

$150 Gift Certificate

Currency Conversion $106 USD
$150 CAD
Get prepared to shop in store or online with this $150 gift certificate for Zero Waste Bulk.
Included Items
  • $150 Gift Certificate
Estimated Shipping
October 2018
17 claimed
Zero Waste Starter Kit

Zero Waste Starter Kit

Currency Conversion $176 USD
$250 CAD
No more single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, plastic toothbrushes, plastic floss, plastic wrap, and disposable plastic razors. We’ve got you covered with sustainable alternatives to these single-use / plastic items to kick start your zero waste journey. In store pick-up available! *Vegan options available for floss & food wrap variety pack
Included Items
  • Stainless Steel Straw w/ Brush
  • Brush Naked Bamboo Toothbrush
  • Flosspot Natural Silk Floss
  • Organic Cotton Tote
  • Invitation to Pre-Launch Party (2)
  • Beeswax Food Wrap Variety Pack
  • Albatross Safety Razor Kit
  • *2,500* Earth Points
  • In-Store Pickup Option
Estimated Shipping
October 2018
7 claimed
Ships to Canada, United States of America
The Experience Seeker

The Experience Seeker

Currency Conversion $352 USD
$500 CAD
Have a one-on-one coffee meetup with us followed by a private tour of the store before we open. Included in this package are 2 tickets for each DIY workshop by All Things Preserved and The Eco Well. Learn to make your own beeswax wraps, kombucha, bath bombs, and more! You will also receive a 1 year membership for the KW Library of Things.
Included Items
  • Organic Cotton Tote
  • Coffee With The Founders
  • Private Tour of The Store
  • Social Media Shoutout
  • 1 Year KW LoT Membership
  • All Things Preserved Workshop (2)
  • The Eco Well Workshop (2)
  • *5,000* Earth Points
  • Invite to Pre-Launch Party (2)
Estimated Shipping
October 2018
3 claimed
Zero Waste Hero

Zero Waste Hero

Currency Conversion $705 USD
$1,000 CAD
Get all the experiences in The Experience Seeker package, PLUS dramatically reduce the waste you produce with these sustainable alternatives to single-use / plastic products that litter most of our daily lives. Be a zero waste hero. Shipping costs returned with in store pickup. *Vegan options available for food wraps & floss
Included Items
  • Stainless Steel Straw w/ Brush
  • Organic Cotton Tote
  • Beeswax Food Wrap Variety Pack
  • Albatross Safety Razor Kit
  • 2-Tier Stainless Steel Tiffin
  • Reusable Bulk/Bread Bag Set
  • The Chatty Monk Cutlery Wrap
  • *10,000* Earth Points
  • In-Store Pickup Option
  • Bamboo Toothbrush + Silk Floss
Estimated Shipping
October 2018
1 claimed
Ships to Canada, United States of America

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