This London shop has what you need to live waste-free from pads to saran wrap - Action News
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London

This London shop has what you need to live waste-free from pads to saran wrap

The Naked Store along King Street has a simple philosophy: reduce or eliminate your use of single-use items and not only would you be saving some bucks but the earth, too.

'Zero waste is about making steps wherever you can and bringing consciousness to your consumption'

Kara Rijnen, left, and her husband Heenal Rajani are owners of the Naked Store in downtown London. (Hala Ghonaim/CBC)

Imagine buying a sealable 'plastic'bag that you can reuse 300 times or how about a feminine hygiene pad that you can wash over and over again for years.

The Naked Store is offering that up.

The new "zero-waste" hub along King Street has a simple philosophy: reduce or eliminate your use of single-use items and not only would you be saving some bucks but the earth, too.

"Zero waste is about making steps wherever you can and bringing consciousness to your consumption and what you use and what you throw away," said co-owner Heenal Rajani.

"We want zero waste to not be something that's for the elite or people who can afford it but for anybody that wants to make a difference and live a more sustainable way."

The store opened at the end of July and it's set to stay in the old Novack's building for the next six months. (Hala Ghonaim/CBC)

The downtown pop-up came to life late July after it received $8,000 in funding from the city's neighbourhood decision making project. Residents voted to help the family business set up a demo space in the old Novack's building for up to six months.

Since then, it's become a community hub, hosting free weekly sustainable workshops including makeup and toothpaste making workshops and arts and crafts events.

The shop is open four times a week and it hopes to expand its hours later in the year. After that, the owners hope to open up their own shop in the city's core.

"We think the appetite and desire is here in London," said Rajani.

5 ways you can reduce waste:

Straws

(Hala Ghonaim/CBC)

The store offers 13 varieties of reusable straws that come instainless steel, glass, bamboo and silicon. They all come in different shapes and sizes.

The store also offers utensils and straw bags that are made locally.

Feminine hygiene products

(Hala Ghonaim/CBC)

Some of the reusable and washable pads and liners are made mostly from hemp and organic cotton. The store also offers diva cups.

Co-owner Kara Rijnen said this was a "game changer" for her. She said she still has the set she bought four years ago.

"As women we spend so much money every month on pads and tampons and various things. This is much more comfortable. They save you money," she said.

Sealable bags

(Hala Ghonaim/CBC)

It's a sealablebag that you can reuse up to 300 times. They're also made from recycled plastic bottles. They come in different sizes and you can wash, dish wash and freeze them.

Refill station

(Hala Ghonaim/CBC)

The refill station offers a plethora of personal care and home care products in bulk including shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, soaps and even deodorants.

Everything is natural and organic.

The owners are also taking a "BYOC" approach bring your own container.

Utensils

(Hala Ghonaim/CBC)

There are many sets of utensils made of steel and bamboo, including other materials.

"I always carry one with me," said owner Heenal Rajani.

Other products:

  • Water bottles
  • Coffee Mugs
  • Beeswax wraps to replace saran wrap
  • Makeup remover pads
  • Produce bags