Recycling Council of BC - www.rcbc.ca 604-732-9253 or toll-free 1-800-667-4321

Zero Waste MarketCanada’s first 100% package-free grocery store tackles plastics pollution and food waste.

After seeing the effects of ocean plastics pollution firsthand as a marine mammal biologist, Brianna Miller decided to take action by creating Zero Waste Market, Canada’s first 100% package free grocery store. Along with co-founder Paula Amiama and employee Alison Carr, Miller has been running monthly pop-up shops at Vancouver’s Patagonia store since October 2015, with plans to open a flagship store by the end of 2016. Miller hopes to set a precedent in the grocery store industry and inspire both suppliers and consumers to think about eliminating waste.

Change Through the Supply ChainZero Waste Market works closely with nearby, sustainability-minded suppliers who are willing to align their operations with zero waste principles. This includes delivering orders in reusable bins and accepting them back for refilling.

Patrons are encouraged to bring clean reusable containers and bulk bags from home; they can be weighed at the tare station and then filled with the market’s selection of local, organic, and ethically sourced foods.

“We are making a serious effort to normalize this movement to make it the norm rather than a niche.”On the food waste front, Zero Waste Market works to source and sell imperfect fruits and vegetables. Miller believes that local sourcing lies at the heart of Zero Waste Market’s business model: Shipping waste is cut down dramatically due to short supply chains, spent dollars flow back into the local economy, and customers are exposed to new ways to reduce their environmental footprint.

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RCBC ZERO WASTE PROFILE

Recycling Council of BC - www.rcbc.ca 604-732-9253 or toll-free 1-800-667-4321

RCBC ZERO WASTE PROFILE

Breaking Old Habits, Making New OnesWhile still in its infancy, Miller’s venture has been warmly embraced by Vancouverites; new and existing customers from a wide range of age groups visit the pop-up markets every month. Currently the chief focus is working with everyone to ensure that they fully understand the zero waste concept. Some suppliers quickly grasp the philosophy while others require further conversations:

“Many of our suppliers can get behind the reusable container idea, but then send along packaged samples for us to try.”

Regulatory issues also pose challenges. The Vancouver Coastal Health and Canadian Food Inspection Agency guidelines related to food packaging and BYOC (bring your own container) methods are still unclear in some areas, but Miller is committed to working with these regulatory bodies to

ensure food safety while reducing much of the waste that exists in the grocery store sector.

Going ForwardOnce secured with a permanent retail space, Miller is looking forward to expand the scope of what Zero Waste Market can do by providing workshop space to host community groups and public educational initiatives. Miller is looking forward to working with and supporting other non-profit and community-based groups that focus on food education, waste reduction, and sustainability. She believes that many of these ideas and practices can be incorporated into the grocery industry.

While waste reduction will always be the central focus of Zero Waste Market, another mandate will revolve around food accessibility. Unsold food will be donated to local organizations to ensure that food is available to those who most need it.

For more information and updates on the new store, please visit http://www.zerowastemarket.ca/

ZERO WASTE MARKET SHAREABLES:

✦Working with 30 local suppliers

✦Diverting over 2,000 containers

✦Prioritizing initiatives like local Earth Day events and Mindful Movie Nights

✦Running workshops for children at the Vancouver School Board

✦Speaking at events for Green Bricks and UBC Neighbourhood Association

✦Engaging with the Zero Waste Vancouver Facebook group on zero waste and local food system issues