What’s In Store: The Best Sustainable Boutiques

Ready for some retail therapy? Sure, online shopping is easy and convenient (homebodies wearing their favorite pajamas while ordering more pajamas—you know who you are). But sometimes, nothing beats going to a store. Think of it as a fun social event with your besties—not to mention in-store-only discounts. Plus, you’ll skip the shipping fees and bring home your haul without the wait.

At these cool low- and zero-waste indie stores across the country, you can shop IRL with the planet in mind.

• Boston General Store Launched in 2013 as an ecommerce boutique, Boston General Store now operates two brick-and-mortar locations in Brookline and Dedham, MA. Owner April Gabriel launched the venture as a tribute to her grandmother, with whom she spent idyllic summers in the Berkshires. An OG fan of “slow living,” Gabriel’s grandmother emphasized reusability over disposability. Along with zero-waste kits for cleaning, shopping and travel, the stores sell sustainable apparel, accessories, home décor and more.
• BYO Long Beach Inspired by Bea Johnson’s Zero Waste Home book, Long Beach, CA, resident Julie Darrell opened a pop-up shop specializing in package-free bath & body products in 2017. Now with three locations, BYO Long Beach has expanded into home goods, bags, books, jewelry, hair accessories and more. Reusable containers stand out as best sellers, and the stores also offer refill stations.
• The Eco Flamingo Founded by four partners, The Eco Flamingo in Chicago, IL, opened in 2020. The self-described “general store” stocks everything from eco-friendly bath & body, beauty and skincare products to home goods, plus arts & crafts and pet supplies. Encouraging community connection, the shop hosts monthly circular workshops (i.e., how to mend clothes and upcycled art projects). Composting and recycling drop-offs are also available.
• Good Deeds Market Encouraging consumers to steer clear of single-use plastics, husband-and-wife team Greg and Jacki D’Amato opened Good Deeds Market in Cape May, NJ, in 2012. Carrying home goods and personal products for everyday use, all the store’s products are biodegradable, compostable and tested and made ethically.  Good Deeds Market also produces some signature merchandise. For its Plantable Seed Cards, the retailer donates 10% of sales to environmental charities. A partner of both the Eden Reforestation Projects and Ecologi, it plants a tree for every purchase.
• The Good Fill Offering all-natural, sustainably sourced and zero-waste bulk refills both in store and online, The Good Fill opened two stores in Nashville, TN, in 2022. Owner Megan Gill describes the store’s mission as “providing alternatives to the disposable items we use every day.” More than just a zero-waste store, Gill sees The Good Fill as a whole eco-friendly vibe. “It’s an invitation to live more thoughtfully, healthily and responsibly,” she said. “Living consciously of our impact shouldn’t feel overwhelming, which is why this space exists.” Partnering with TerraCycle and Compost Nashville, the stores also accept items for composting and recycling.
• Frank’s Market & Refillery After a decade in the tech industry, Frank Giardino was laid off in 2022. Already passionate about the environment, he’d been keeping an eye on the popularity of refilleries, but couldn’t find a local version in northern New Jersey. In 2023, he opened Frank's Market & Refillery in Asbury Park, NJ. With sustainable, eco-friendly, organic, toxin free and single-use plastic-free products, the store sells zero-waste categories from personal and pet care to home goods and reusable storage options. A member of 1% For the Planet, Frank’s Market & Refillery also offers online shopping.
•  Precycle Growing up in Riga, Latvia, during the end of its rule by the Soviet Union, Katerina Bogatireva learned two key lessons from an early age: 1) never waste food, and 2) get the most out of every resource. After relocating to New York in the early 2000s, she noticed a stark contrast with disposable products everywhere. With a focus on reusable merchandise. Bogatireva opened Precycle in Brooklyn, NY, 2015. Now with two locations in the borough, the Certified B Corporation stocks sustainable home goods and personal care products.
• Simple Good On a mission to sell products crafted from natural materials, Melanie Gonzales launched her retail concept via curated pop-up events. In 2019, she opened Simple Good as a permanent store in the New York City suburb of Port Jefferson, NY. Along with sustainable apparel, accessories and jewelry, the store offers eco-friendly beauty and wellness products, home goods, baby items and stationery. Simple Good also operates a refill station, and in 2023, Gonzales opened Timber & Ties, a sustainable store for men. “All of our products and shipping materials are plastic-free, recyclable and compostable,” she explained. “”We provide non-toxic alternatives to common self-care and home goods. They’re effective without any plastic packaging or toxic ingredients.”
• Sustain LA Opened in 2009 by Leslie VanKeuren Campbell, Sustain LA in Los Angeles, CA, specializes in sustainable household and bath & body products. Zero-waste products stand out as a key category, and the store operates a Refill Bar that’s available both in person and online. Sustain also rents out its space for events for up to 200 guests, and offers zero-waste event planning services.
• The Waste Less Shop First opened in Manhattan Beach, CA, in 2019, owner Stephanie Cochrane relocated The Waste Less Shop to Reno, NV, in 2021. Specializing in plastic-free, non-toxic sustainable bulk goods from local vendors, the store carries bath & body products, cleaning supplies and kitchen accessories. While The Waste Less Shop’s BulkBar lets customers fill containers with home and personal care products, it also offers a membership program (with perks like free shipping and discounts). As a One Tree Planted partner, each membership purchase plants a tree.
• Way of Being With shared values including conscious consumerism and a love of nature, BFFs Alex Gamboa Grand and Lindsay Janssen Smith opened Way of Being in 2018. The Portland, OR, store offers sustainable beauty, personal care & wellness products as well as cleaning supplies. All products are as plastic-free as possible, and most vendors (including several Certified B Corporations) are based in the United States. Refill and subscription products are also available, and shipping is 100% carbon neutral for online orders.