Businesses that CARE: Case Studies
The Glass Jar
A Refillable Market
1588 Route 6A, East Dennis, MA 02641
508-694-3053
www.theglassjarmarket.com
What motivated your business to adopt eco-friendly practices or develop sustainable product lines?
We live in a coastal town that is overrun by plastic litter on our beaches. We wanted to provide the community with an option for package free shopping to minimize the added plastics and packaging we receive at the larger grocery stores. We also wanted to provide an option for affordable food for the community, and thus, The Glass Jar was born.
What specific operational changes have you made to reduce your business’s environmental footprint? These could fall in the category of energy use, waste management, and/or water conservation.
What specific operational changes have you made to reduce your business’s environmental footprint? These could fall in the category of energy use, waste management, and/or water conservation.
We purchase everything in bulk and any plastics we receive get a second use in our shop or home. Our entire process here is limiting the plastics put back into the landfills by encouraging customers to bring packaging from home to refill.
How do you communicate your sustainability efforts to customers and the broader Cape Cod community?
At this time it has been concentrated on our customers. We don’t take a hard line approach, but rather a softer one to keep the door open to anyone wanting to shop with us. Being open only 6 months we have been exploring other options to get the word out about our shop.
What measurable impacts have your sustainability efforts had on your business and the environment? Such as Initial investment, Payback Period, Annual Savings, Waste Reduction.
We don’t yet have those logistics, but we chose our location based on the fact our overhead was very low to keep costs low for our customers.
Have you faced any challenges in implementing sustainable practices, and how have you overcome them?
Shopping in a refill store is an incredibly new concept to the East Coast and especially Cape Cod. We have one other shop Green Road Refill, which focuses on home and body refillables, but the general public has never heard of, or been to a refill shop. Teaching the process, opening people up to a new way of shopping and comfortability with the process have all been new challenges for everyone. We approach it all gently and our customers have been nothing but happy.
Can you share any success stories or significant achievements related to your eco-friendly practices?
We have done zero paid advertising since our opening, and have been steadily busy. If you build something with integrity, people will tell their friends and families about it, and that is exactly what is happening. For a first year business, we are doing exceptionally well.
Are there any additional innovative practices or technologies you are considering adopting?
Not at this time.
What advice would you give to other businesses looking to become more eco-friendly?
Find what you’re passionate about and put your own spin on it. If a door closes, find another one to open yourself and be your own advocate.