Square One customers can refill their own containers, bottles, and jars instead of disposing them after one use with sustainably made; body washes, shampoos, dish soaps, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaners, aftershave and more! Square One also stocks a variety of plastic-free items such as soap bars wrapped in paper, natural deodorants, and solid dishwashing blocks. All cleaning and body care products are vegan, sulfate-free, and contain organic ingredients. Square One also stocks supplies that promote sustainable lifestyles – like reusable food ware containers, kitchen supplies, and essential oils. Several items are made locally.
Square One walks their sustainably talk by procuring reusable supplies for daily operations. Reusable wash cloths and rags replace paper towels and disposable cleaning wipes. They refill containers with the all-purpose cleaner sold onsite to use in-house. Owner, Anna Nitti, boasts that 100% of the store furnishings were reclaimed or repurposed – unwanted baskets and chairs were acquired, an old desk was repurposed from a local school, tables and shelves were made from reclaimed wood scraps. No items were purchased to open up the store!
Square One strives to operate a zero waste enterprise by diverting more than 90% of unwanted materials from ending up in landfill. They do this by implementing the following reduce and reuse practices:
- Cardboard boxes from incoming shipments are reused for Square One outgoing online orders.
- Less than 1 ream of copy paper is used for business operations annually! Paperless invoices and e-receipts are generated for each transaction.
- Repurposed paper bags (leftover from other businesses) are provided for customers’ only upon request.
- The few paper bags procured by Square One contain 40% post-consumer content recycled materials.
Most employees live locally and walk to work.
