Plastic Free July began in 2011 as a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation. It’s a movement inviting millions worldwide to be a part of eliminating plastic pollution. Cleaner streets, waterways and communities start with each of use choosing to replace single-use plastics with sustainable alternatives. We interviewed our Wellness Category Manager, Aili, to learn more about plastic free options in our Wellness Department.

As the Wellness Category Manager, what do you prioritize in the products we carry?

I prioritize local, sustainably focused brands. I like to uplift local makers, with a special focus on women-owned, LGBTQIA+ owned, and BIPOC-owned businesses. I feel it’s especially important to pour energy into communities who may have not been previously encouraged to pursue entrepreneurship. By focusing on local businesses and makers, we’re also cutting down on the pollutants it takes to produce and transport product.

What trends do you see in the Wellness industry around sustainability, both in packaging and ingredient sourcing?

I see an ongoing trend of people gearing away from single use plastic. More brands than ever are making zero waste products like shampoo bars, using cardboard packaging that can be recycled or composted, as well as glass containers which have a higher likelihood of being recycled or reused by the consumer. Over the years I’ve seen things like shampoo bars become more and more commonplace. While they used to be in the bathrooms of your most environmentally-conscious friends, they’ve now become more common. The formulas have also come a long way and perform much better than what we were seeing 10+ years ago. I think “zero waste” has become demystified in a lot of ways, because it’s become more accessible and user friendly. I would encourage anyone who hasn’t yet tried a shampoo bar to give it a whirl! I promise you; it is not like rubbing a bar of soap in your hair!

Humble and HiBar are currently on BOGO. What sustainable practices do these brands exemplify that our customers should know about?

Humble Brands has been using PCR (post-consumer recycled or post-consumer resin) since their founding in 2015. This means that instead of sourcing new plastic, they’re using plastics that have already been in circulation. Think of it like they’re giving a second lift to plastic containers that already exist in the world! While that’s great, they upped the ante in 2021 when they launched their cardboard deodorant line. This line is fully biodegradable and contains ZERO plastic components. I think it’s great to see a brand that was already committed to environmental causes raise the bar even further.

HiBar was founded in 2018 by Nora and Jay Schaper. They’re local to our beautiful city and have been committed to eliminating single use plastics in personal care products from the jump. Traditional shampoos and conditioners are made up of 80% water. HiBar eliminated the water and created a highly concentrated and effective formula that can stand up against any of the traditional shampoos on the shelf. The packaging is made entirely of paper, and even uses vegetable-based ink for the branding. You can recycle the exterior easily, or better yet- compost it! As someone who has been in the Wellness industry for almost a decade, HiBar is one of those brands that gets me excited, and I constantly recommend to friends and colleagues.

How does the Wedge stand out as a sustainable retailer?

The Wedge stands out in so many ways, but I would say the main one is that we genuinely care. We care about the environmental impact, the human impact, and the intersection of the two. I think it’s difficult to talk about sustainability without talking about the human element. We’re all just people trying our best, and not everyone’s best will look the same. We’re all operating at different levels of sustainability, but what makes the Wedge great is that we are all trying to make an impact in the world. I think caring deeply for the environment can often feel overwhelming, pointless, or downright depressing, but what stands out about the Wedge is that it’s a space for people to come together and work toward common goals, so that these overwhelming feelings aren’t so heavy.

The more you surround yourself with a community that wants to do better, the lighter these heavy burdens feel. It’s less isolating. It makes you feel like maybe, if we all team up, real change could be possible. What I find most meaningful is that if you were to ask any of our employees about their personal sustainability practices, I’m positive you’d get a million different answers. Tips and tricks on how to use that weird glass bottle you have kicking around, the best bike route to work, artists collecting trash for projects, and the best donation site for used clothing. We might all be working from various levels of sustainability, but we all care deeply- and we are all doing something. 

Beyond Humble and HiBar, what are a few other brands with sustainable packaging and ingredient sourcing we should know about?

Gosh so many! If you’re unfamiliar with Stasher, they’re an awesome brand that uses food grade silica to make reusable food storage bags. They make their Silica using sand and oxygen and their goal as a company is to reduce single use plastics. What I think is so fun about Stasher is that everyone uses them for different things. I know so many friends who use these for food, travel, personal care storage, the list could really go on and on. And because they’re made from food grade silica, they’re safe to heat up in the oven or microwave, so you can easily reheat leftovers in them.

evanhealy is another brand that is so thoughtful in their sourcing and materials, their products come in glass bottles (I personally love to reuse these bottles for plant propagations or tiny vases!) and they are also doing so much with sustainable farming practices. They work directly with communities globally to source the raw materials that make up their products. By doing so they’ve forged relationships with women’s cooperatives, small villages, and family farms around the world. Their focus has always been geared to building relationships with their land stewards globally, and focusing on sustainable farming habits that help restore soil health. Their commitment to both sustainability and creating positive impacts on the people they partner with globally is something to be admired.

Herb Pharm is another great brand that’s been in operation since 1979. If you’re not familiar, they make fantastic herbal formulas, from plants which are mostly grown on their farm in Southern Oregon. They’re using a style of farming called regenerative agriculture, if you’re not familiar with this term, the main goal is increasing the biodiversity of the land which in turn helps improve soil health. Instead of growing just one crop, there’s an emphasis on going back to a more natural and sustainable way of cultivating land – which includes increasing both the biodiversity of plants and animals that live in and on the land. They are an entirely pesticide free environment which is home to over 350 species of bees and many other pollinators! They’re committed to creating a landscape that is home to many different types of native wildlife, from salmon to swallowtails. Their products are packaged entirely in glass, which is more easily recycled and could be potentially reused by the consumer!