San Francisco: The 17 Best Zero Waste Shops in the Bay Area
Foggy Notion, Inner Richmond. Image by Julia Rockwell.
Finding Everyday Plastic-Free Necessities
Shopping at zero waste refill shops is essential for reducing single-use plastic consumption and minimizing overall waste. That’s why I’ve complied a list of the top zero waste shops in the San Francisco Bay Area. While all of these shops sell low waste products, they also encourage customers to bring their own containers, which significantly decreases the reliance on packaging materials that often end up in landfills and oceans. Additionally, these refill shops prioritize sourcing sustainable products, which supports eco-friendly brands and promotes a circular economy. So whether you need to pick up a shampoo bar or refill a bottle of plastic-free laundry detergent, these well-stocked shops can assist you in finding a wide range of every day, plastic-free necessities that significantly cut down on waste.
The 17 Best Bay Area Zero Waste & Refill Shops
South Bay:
San Francisco
01. Simple
Images by Julia Rockwell
About Simple:
If you find yourself in Cole Valley, stop by Simple, a neighborhood eco-market and refillery that offers a full range of zero-waste items, including a large selection of refillable products for the home and body, with a focus on local goods and makers. From plastic-free toilet paper to refillable bulk shampoo, Simple has a wide range of everyday essentials to help you reduce your waste and lead a low-tox life.
Location: Cole Valley
02. Foggy Notion
Images by Julia Rockwell
About Foggy Notion:
The Inner Richmond is home to Foggy Notion, a woman-owned small business with a growing number of eco-friendly home and bath goods like plastic-free cleaning products, bamboo toothbrushes, and reusable dishcloths—along with some vintage home goods and handmade ceramics. Although this isn't a refillery, they offer a wide selection of plastic-free products to help make your life more sustainable.
Location: Inner Richmond
03. The Daisy Refillery
First Image by The Daisy Refillery. Second and Third Images by Julia Rockwell.
About The Daisy Refillery:
Don’t get around much? No problem. The Daisy Refillery is a mobile shop. They offer door-to-door delivery and house calls, or you can visit them at one of their many markets and events across the city. By offering a refill system, they reduce single-use plastic waste, encouraging customers to bring their own containers and refill them with high-quality, ethically sourced products. Their selection includes personal care items, cleaning supplies, and everyday essentials, all formulated to be safe for both consumers and the environment.
Location: Mobile (Brisbane, San Francisco & South San Francisco) & Markets
04. Rainbow Grocery
Images by Julia Rockwell
About Rainbow Grocery:
Rainbow Grocery stands out as a premier destination for plastic-free, zero waste shopping. Committed to sustainability, Rainbow Grocery cooperative offers a wide variety of bulk foods and products including soap, olive oil, maple syrup, laundry detergent, snacks, and pet food. Customers can bring their own containers, reducing reliance on single-use plastics. The store also prioritizes local and organic sourcing, supporting community farmers and producers.
Location: The Mission
05. Other Avenues Grocery Cooperative
Image by Other Avenues
About Other Avenues:
Other Avenues Grocery Cooperative offers a solid selection of bulk foods designed to support sustainable living along with a nice selection of everyday products without plastic packaging. They are committed to fostering an environmentally conscious community, making it easy for individuals and families to adopt sustainable practices without sacrificing convenience or quality.
Location: Outer Sunset
East Bay
06. Fillgood
Images by Fillgood
About Fillgood:
With more than 130 products available in our store, Fillgood offers an array of eco-friendly household items that prioritize minimal plastic/packaging with refill options available. With knowledgeable staff, Fillgood encourages customers to make informed choices that contribute to both personal health and environmental well-being. They even offer home deliveries—just like the old milkman!
Location: Berkeley
07. The Filling Station
Images by The Filling Station
About The Filling Station:
The Filling Station is a local neighborhood refillery with everything from bulk Juniper Ridge body wash to fish sauce. They also have a fantastic selection of plastic-free makeup. Bring your own containers or borrow theirs—either way, you’ll be reducing plastic and packaging waste. (And you won’t want to miss out on their wall of bulk toothpaste tablets!)
Location: Berkeley
08. Re-Up Refill Shop
Images by Re-Up Refill Shop
About Re-Up Refill Shop
Re-Up Refill Shop offers bulk groceries in refillable containers with the goal of revolutionizing the grocery system. Their mission is to reduce waste, ensure responsible sourcing of products, and educate consumers on environmental and social matters. In addition to groceries, they also have an extensive plastic-free, zero-waste bath & body, and cleaning supply products.
Location: Oakland
09. Mighty Market
Images by Mighty Market
About Mighty Market:
Mighty Market is a woman- and sister-owned refill apothecary and sustainable marketplace. Their space is beautiful and their eco-inventory includes everything you need including refillable beauty products, body care, and cleaning supplies. They also have a vast assortment of low waste, reusable products to help you build more sustainable habits in your everyday life. And if you’re looking to host a sustainable party, they also offer bath bomb/bath salts-making, candle-making, and body spray/perfume-making events.
North Bay
10. Non-Disposable Life
About Non-Disposable Life (formerly Ambatalia):
Tucked away at the Mill Valley Lumbar Yard is Non-Disposable Life, a sustainable shop focusing on reusable products. In addition to a selection of plastic-free goods such as dish brushes, soap, and bamboo straws, they also have a beautiful selection of natural, sustainable, locally-made (in-house) textiles including cloth bowl covers, produce bags, and my favorite—the large bento bag.
Location: Mill Valley
11. Refill Mercantile
About Refill Mercantile:
Refill Mercantile offers a variety of low waste products, including household goods, personal care items, and eco-friendly cleaning supplies, all sold in bulk or refillable containers. Customers are encouraged to bring their own containers or borrow a vintage bottle from their collection. Donna and Rob, the owners, are passionate about low waste living and are helpful with any questions you might have about starting a sustainable lifestyle—so pop in and pick up your plastic-free necessities to get started today.
Location: Petaluma
12. Homebody Refill
Image by Homebody Refill
About Homebody Refill:
Homebody Refill is a zero waste and refillery shop located in the heart of Sebastopol. Bring your own containers to stock up on shampoo, dishwashing detergent, and body soap. They also have a well-stocked assortment of plastic-free, reusable products to help you keep your waste down at home.
Location: Sebastopol
13. Refill Madness
Images by Refill Madness
About Refill Madness:
Four blocks from Sonoma’s historic plaza sits Refill Madness, a soap refillery and zero waste store. In addition to refills, they have a wide selection of sustainable products with everything from bar shampoo to reusable water balloons. As you transition to plastic-free, compostable products, they also accept old, used plastic dental products/packaging, razors, Burt’s Bees items, and plastic pens/stationery at their store then ship them to TerraCycle for recycling. (Since none of these products are accepted at curbside recycling.) They’ve also hosted a free clothing swap and a textile recycling drive so be sure to follow them on Instagram to learn more about upcoming events.
Location: Sonoma (and Sacramento)
14. Silo Pantry
Image by Silo Pantry
About Silo Pantry:
Silo Pantry is a plastic-free, low-waste groceries delivery option for Sonoma County. They work with local farmers and artisans to source organic, non-GMO foods as much as possible. Their selection includes pasta, bread, pastries, coffee, tea, beans, lentils, rice, grains, flours, baking essentials, nuts, seeds, eggs, meat, oils, vinegar, produce, cookies, and snacks, along with plastic-free household and personal care items. If you don’t live in their home delivery area, they also offer pickup locations from local partners in Sebastopol, Petaluma, Penngrove, and Berkeley.
Location: Sonoma (delivery only with some pickup locations through local partners)
South Bay
15. The Source Zero
Image by The Source Zero
About The Source Zero:
The Source Zero is San Jose’s first zero waste shop and soap refill boutique. In addition to sellimg locally made home goods from various female artisans based in the Bay Area, they also have a number of products they make themselves including lotion bars, shower steamers, and body scrubs.
Location: San Jose
16. The Fillerup Shop
Images by The Fillerup Shop
About The Fillerup Shop:
The Fillerup Shop offers refill and low-waste products. Open Wednesday through Friday (and Saturday by appointment), this mini neighborhood spot can help you do a lot of good in reducing waste while supporting a local business.
Location: Morgan Hill
17. Ethos
Image by Ethos
About Ethos:
Ethos is a woman-owned, locally-owned low waste living shop and refillery. They focus on curating refillable and reusable alternatives that minimize our impact on the planet and its people. From plastic-free makeup and toothpaste tablets to refillable shampoo and body oil, this B Corp-certified shop will keep you well-stocked with all the essentials you need to reduce waste.
Location: Capitola (Santa Cruz) and Los Gatos
Not in the Bay Area?
Check out this map of refill shops across the United States…
September 3, 2024
read more:
