Learn about refilling with us

Hours, location & delivery areas

Our storefront is located at 1031 Hilton Rd. Ferndale, MI 48220.

For the holidays, we will be closed on: Dec 31 & Jan 1.

Regular Hours:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 10am-6pm

Wednesday: 10am-7pm

Thursday: 10am-6pm

Friday: 10am-6pm

Saturday: 10am-4pm

Sunday: 12pm-4pm

Local delivery areas: Ferndale, Royal Oak, Hazel Park, Oak Park, Berkley, Pleasant Ridge, Huntington Woods, Clawson, Madison Heights, Birmingham, Troy, and Detroit neighborhoods in 48221 zip code

What can you refill in the shop?

Our current refill offerings in the shop: Grab your containers and we'll see you soon!

 

Bath & Body:

Hand & Body Soaps

Hand & Body Lotion

Body Oils

Deodorant Cream

Epsom Salts, Bath Bombs & Shower Steamers

Bubble Bath 

Hand sanitizer

 

Facial Care

Gel Face Wash 

Facial Toners 

Facial Moisturizer & Makeup Remover 

 

Hair Care:

Shampoo 

Conditioner

Detangler Spray

Dry Shampoo

Texturizing Salt Spray

 

Oral Care:

Toothpaste

Toothtabs

 

Seasonal:

Bug Spray

Sunblock

Aloe Gel 

 

Laundry:

Liquid Laundry

Laundry Powder

Oxygen Brightener

 

Household Cleaning:

Dish Soap

Dishwasher Gel & Tabs

Rinse Aid

Vinegar (distilled white, 5%)

Antibac Toilet Cleaning Concentrate & Toilet Cleaning Fizzy Bombs

Wood & Tile Cleaning Concentrate

Daily Granite Cleaning Concentrate

All-Purpose Cleaners

Glass Cleaner

Soap Nuts

Baking Soda

Citric Acid

  

Miscellaneous: 

Essential Oils

Isopropyl alcohol (99%)

Hydrogen Peroxide, aka 'Liquid Unbleach'

Witch Hazel

Beeswax pellets, local

 

Teas

Chai Black FT Organic

Chamomile Flowers

Cinnamon Orange tea

Earl Grey Black Tea FT Org.

Elderberry Echinacea Wellness Tea, Org

English Breakfast Black Tea, org

Hibiscus flowers, c/s organic

Jasmine Green Tea FT Org

Lemon Ginger tea, org

Matcha Powder Org. Japanese

Peppermint leaf c/s

Turmeric Chai, org

 

Herbs, Spices & Baking Needs, Seeds, etc.

Baking Powder (no added aluminum)

Bay leaf whole org

Black Garlic Finishing Salt

Cajun Seasoning, Organic

Cardamom seed, ground org & whole pods, organic

Catnip Herb Org. C/S

Cayenne organic ground

Chili Powder blend organic

Chili Peppers, crushed red blend

Chia seed whole

Cilantro leaf c/s organic

Cinnamon, ground organic

Cinnamon sticks organic

Cloves ground organic

Cloves whole organic

Cocoa Powder Org with Alkai

Coriander Seed, Ground, Organic

Cornstarch organic

Cream of Tartar powder

Cumin seed ground organic

Curry powder organic

Dill weed c/s organic

Elderberries whole organic

Everything Blend, organic

Fennel Seed, Whole, Organic

Flax seed whole organic 

Hemp Hearts, organic

Garam Masala organic

Garlic powder organic

Garlic granules

Ginger root ground organic

Hibiscus flowers, c/s organic

Italian Seasoning Organic

Lavender flowers whole organic 

Nutmeg ground organic

Nutritional Yeast mini flake

Onion white powder organic

Oregano leaf c/s organic

Paprika ground org

Parsley leaf, org

Pepper black medium grind org

Peppercorns black whole org

Pickling Spice mild sweet *seasonal

Poppy seed whole organic

Pumpkin Pie Spice organic

Rosemary leaf whole organic

Sage leaf rubbed organic

Salt, Himalayan Pink, coarse

Sesame Seeds, whole, organic

Smoked Paprika Organic

Sprouting Seeds, Mixed, Organic

Star Anise, whole organic

Sweet Basil leaf c/s organic

Taco Seasoning Organic

Thyme leaf whole organic

Turmeric root ground organic

Vanilla Beans, Whole Organic

 

Sweeteners:

Maple Syrup, Grade A, Dark Robust, Organic

Honey, Bees in the D

 

Bulk Dry Goods:

Coffee Beans, changes seasonally, roasted locally by Dessert Oasis 

Organics Pumpkin Seeds, Raw, (Hull-less)

Popcorn,  Yellow Organic

Mango, Dried, Organic

Dried Cranberries, Organic, sweetened with apple juice 

Cashews Raw Whole, Organic

Lentils, Red Organic

Lentils, Brown Organic

Granola, flavors change seasonally

Pasta, Organic

Quinoa White, Organic

Oats, Rolled, Regular & Gluten-Free Organic

Sourdough everything crackers, made in Detroit by Share Crackers

Candy: vegan & free from artificial dyes

Dark chocolate covered almonds

Recycling & composting at the shop

RECYCLING:

We are committed to being a resource for sustainability, so we are excited to offer Terracycling boxes for hard-to-recycle items. We currently have 6 boxes/programs running (see below) and they accept ALL brands, even if sponsored by one particular brand. Some of these programs are free, and some are paid. If boxes are sponsored, they are free to us and for you. You bring your items and we will box them up, print off a label and get them shipped out. 

FREE PROGRAMS:

PEN, MARKER & INK CARTRIDGE RECYCLING: While previously we had a stationary program sponsored by Bic, they closed this program in May 2023. We now collect only empty pens, markers and ink cartridges to recycle at Staples. (Staples accepts a number of other items for FREE recycling if you take your items directly to one of their stores, please check out their website for more info.)

RAZOR RECYCLING: (sponsored by Gilette) Accepts all brands of blades and razors (systems and disposable units, and replaceable-blade cartridge units), rigid plastic packaging, and flexible plastic bag packaging. This is in a sharps container for safety. 

Stasher Bags: If you have old stasher bags that have gotten damaged/cut, they are still great for dry storage! But if you have bags that are beyond repurposing, bring them in and we will send them to Terracycle to recycle.

Pill Bottles: We're partnering with CocoPlum to keep pill bottles out of the waste stream. We are currently accepting orange, green, blue, red, yellow, and purple translucent prescription pill bottles made of polypropylene (#5 plastic), and ask that bottles be free from lids, labels and adhesives. For now, we're covering the cost of shipping these, just wanting to make it happen. If we find that the demand makes covering this too challenging, we might need to move this into our paid recycling program.

 

PAID PROGRAMS: We purchase some paid Terracycle boxes, and to offset the cost of these (they range between $165-185), customers can purchase a small cloth bag for $10, fill it up with any of the paid recycling items and then deposit these in the boxes. You can repurchase the bag to collect your recycling again, or leave it with us to wash and reuse.

CANDY & SNACK WRAPPER RECYCLING (paid): Accepts candy wrappers, cookie wrappers, family size snack bags, multi-pack snack bags, snack bags. Wrappers must be cleaned from food waste. Not accepted: paper-based wrappers, sticks, blister packs, or cardboard master cartons.

BEAUTY PRODUCTs & PACKAGING RECYCLING (paid): Accepts 

  • Conditioner bottles and caps
  • Eye liner pencils (non-wooden) and cases
  • Eye shadow tubes
  • Face soap dispensers and tubes
  • Hair gel tubes and caps
  • Hair paste plastic jars and caps
  • Lip balm tubes
  • Lip gloss tubes
  • Lotion bottles, tubes, dispensers, and jars
  • Mascara tubes
  • Plastic concealer tubes and sticks
  • Shampoo bottles and caps
  • Shaving foam tubes (no cans)
  • Spray bottles and triggers 

Do not send in aerosol or pressurized cans, electronic items such as blow dryers and straighteners, perfume bottles, nail polish bottles or removers, wooden eyeliner pencils, any bio-medical, bio-hazardous waste, or partially full and full packaging (tubes, jars and containers) such as nail-polish, lotion, soap or ointments.

Oral Care products: Recycling of plastic toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes. This program does not accept floss containers or mouthwash, or other oral care products.

 

EVENT-ONLY PROGRAMS These programs run occasionally with special events:

Athletic Shoe Recycling

Children's Clothing Recycling

 

COMPOST DROP OFF:

Composting food waste is a simple way to drastically reduce your carbon footprint! (1 lb of food in a landfill = 1 lb of methane!) We offer a large compost bin behind the shop, emptied weekly, so that customers can drop off their food waste for free! All food waste is accepted, so unlike backyard composting you don't have to sort out cheese, bones, etc. as well as compostable food and beverage containers, utensils, etc. If something is certified BPI compostable, then it can go in this bin! We ask that all food waste is bagged, either in a BPI compostable bag, or in a thick paper bag to keep the ick factor down. Stop in anytime and staff will be happy to show you the bin. *If you are a resident of the following cities, check out your free municipal composting programs!

Ferndale

Royal Oak

Madison Heights

 

Community Advocacy

We will use this page for compiling current calls to action at local, state & federal level that help protect our planet & neighbors. 

Protecting Neighbors & Communities from ICE: 

OAKLAND CAFE (Community Aid For Empowerment) is an Oakland County mutual aid org. We're sharing materials and resources here from their presentation at our shop 1/30. Please get involved in whatever way you can.

  • IF YOU SEE ICE IN OAKLAND COUNTY, CALL CAFE'S HOTLINE AT 248-340-3775.  Trained verifiers will respond.
  •  Arrange presentations at local churches and other community organizations.  CAFE will come and present if you can reserve a space and invite vetted guests.
  • Learn how to safely distribute food and other essentials to families in need.
  • Learn how to help local small businesses to review their rights and distribute kits and information to protect their employees and businesses. CAFE will help Walking Lightly organize local small businesses, so please reach out to Tessa at Walking Lightly if you want to get involved with this.
  • Donate to CAFE's Go Fund Me HERE to help CAFE put funds into Commissary and phone accounts for prisoners in ICE detention, purchase infant formula and other essentials, print materials, and other CAFE expenses. 
  • Serve as Verifiers in CAFE's ICE Neighborhood Watch program.  CAFE's hotline covers Oakland County, and we are recruiting and training Verifiers in every city / township to join our network.  CAFE will provide training and ride alongs so local groups support each other. Next training opportunity Saturday Feb 7th. Flyer below.
  •  Help advocate for legislation that designates schools, courthouses, hospitals, and churches as sensitive locations free from ICE enforcement; prohibits state agencies from handing over personal information solely for immigration enforcement and requires local police to focus on enforcing local laws; and requiring ICE to follow standard law enforcement procedures. Join us to call and write letters to state, county and municipal elected officials to advocate for these policies that protect immigrants and citizens.  *Sample letters below.
     Also: Ask the Attorney General and candidates to hold ICE and GEO (which owns the detention center in Baldwin, MI) accountable.  *A sample letter to Attorney General Dana Nessel is below.

PHONE CALL SCRIPTS FOR YOUR SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE IN LANSING, ATTORNEY GENERAL DANA NESSEL, MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT

 Senator : (Find your State Senator here)
My name is ______ and I’m your constituent at _______. Please support SB 508, 509, and
510. These bills are currently in the Michigan State Senate Committee on Civil Rights,
Judiciary, and Public Safety. These bills require federal law enforcement agents to follow
standard law enforcement procedures, protect our rights, and hold law enforcement to
standards of transparency and accountability. Thank you.


 Speaker of the House Representative Matt Hall: 517-373-1784 (Also call your
representative if other than Representative Hall, find them here)
My name is _____ and I’m your constituent at _________. Please support HB 4760, HB4859
and HB4941 which require federal law enforcement agents to follow standard law enforcement
procedures, protect our constitutional rights, and hold law enforcement to standards of
transparency and accountability. Thank you.


 Attorney General Dana Nessel: 517-335-7622
My name is _______, and I’m your constituent at ___________. Please hold ICE / CBP
accountable for violating Michigan laws by establishing a reporting portal where we can submit
documentation of violations, and issuing guidance to local law enforcement agencies and school
districts clarifying that public safety, school attendance, and family stability are core proprieties.
Thank you.

Letter/Email Templates to Legislators & AG: (find their names & contact info here)

Senator _________
The Binsfeld Office Building
201 Townsend Street
Lansing, MI 48933

Dear Senator ;
In response to the increasingly aggressive and dehumanizing immigration enforcement methods
being deployed across the country, Senate Bills 508, 509, and 510, aim to protect Michigan
families by creating meaningful, common-sense protections. 
Senate Bill 508 would designate certain places like courthouses and other “sensitive locations”
as immigration-enforcement-free zones. Michigan residents should not have to fear
encountering masked secret police when they are receiving care in a hospital. Children should
not have to fear being taken by ICE / CBP while they sit in a classroom. Under this bill, such
publicly funded spaces would prohibit non-emergency law enforcement activity unless
accompanied by a valid judicial warrant.
Senate Bill 509 would prohibit state agencies from handing over someone's personal
information solely for the purposes of immigration enforcement, without a judicial warrant.
Protecting our personal information from unauthorized disclosure or overreaching government
actors has never been more critical to maintaining Michiganders' fundamental right to privacy.
Our local police should focus on local law enforcement and build trust with all members of our
local community.
We are deeply concerned about masked agents and the “secret police” tactics of the Trump
administration. Racial profiling is poor policing and undermines law and order. Senate Bill 510
would require that ICE / CBP follow standard law enforcement procedures, like all other law
enforcement agencies. This bill prohibits all on-duty law enforcement officers from wearing a
face covering that conceals or obscures their identity while interacting with the public, absent a
handful of exceptions. The bill also requires that all on-duty law enforcement officers wear their
uniform. This bill would go a long way to protect our rights and hold law enforcement to
standards of transparency and accountability to all people of Michigan, not just immigrants.
These bills are currently in the Michigan State Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and
Public Safety. We urge you to vote in favor of these bills.  
Sincerely,

Representative Matt Hall
Speaker of the House
Room H-164 Capitol Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909

Dear Representative Hall;
I am writing to ask you to give full support to HB 4760, HB4859 and HB4941. 
 
HB4859 and its Senate equivalent S-508 would restrict such immigration actions as arresting or
interviewing an individual or conducting a search or surveillance in sensitive locations without a
valid judicial warrant.  These locations include educational institutions, places of worship,
hospitals and courthouses. This legislation is necessary because the people in our communities
need to feel safe when attending to their personal needs, seeking medical help, and fulfilling
legal requirements.
HB4941 and its Senate equivalent S-509 would prohibit law enforcement agencies from
entering into, modifying, or renewing agreements with the Department of Homeland Security. 
Our local law enforcement agencies have their hands full enforcing local laws and ensuring
public safety. Asking local police to enforce federal immigration law undermines community
trust in local and state law enforcement officers. The bill would also help to reduce concerns
about racial profiling by local police.
HB 4760, Justice Needs No Mask, and its equivalent Senate Bill 510 would require that ICE
/CBP follow standard law enforcement procedures, like all other law enforcement agencies. This
bill prohibits all on-duty law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings that conceal or
obscure their identity while interacting with the public, absent a handful of exceptions. The bill
also requires that all on-duty law enforcement officers wear their uniform. Secrecy creates
dangerous situations and these incidents look like kidnappings or criminal acts. This bill would
go a long way to protect our rights and hold law enforcement to standards of transparency and
accountability to all people of Michigan, not just immigrants.
I am deeply concerned about masked agents and the extreme “secret police” tactics of the
Trump administration. Supporting law and order requires protecting us from overreaching
government actions. Maintaining law and order is about protecting and helping us feel safe in
our neighborhoods.  I look forward to hearing more from you regarding these bills and giving
them your complete support.
 
Sincerely,

The Honorable Dana Nessel
Michigan Attorney General
P.O. Box 30212
Lansing, MI 48909-7712
Dear Attorney General Nessel,
We write to you as concerned members of the community in Michigan and as people who care
deeply about the safety, stability, and rights of hardworking immigrant families. In the past
months we and many local neighbors and concerned friends have seen alarming incidents in our
region, including the Pontiac area, in which noncriminal, law-abiding Latino families have been
targeted by federal immigration enforcement, separated, intimidated, or made to live in constant
fear of losing their livelihoods and children. These incidents are not isolated. They reflect a
pattern that has deeply harmful effects on our families, our children’s education and well-being,
and the sense of security in our neighborhoods.
In New York, under Attorney General Letitia James, an online reporting portal was launched to
create a record of potential illegal conduct by ICE / CBP that could be used in possible legal
actions, to bring accountability and transparency to federal immigration enforcement. Similar
measures are being taken in Illinois and California. I urge you to consider taking bold, parallel
action here in Michigan. Establish a reporting mechanism, investigate and hold accountable local
officials or law enforcement entities that facilitate unjust ICE detentions of non-criminal
families, and ensure that schools, children, and families are safe and free from illegal
intimidation.
In particular, we have credible reports that ICE / CBP have;
 November 18: Abducted a US citizen from Pontiac and returned him a few hours later
with a concussion and broken ribs.
 December 2 and 3: Concealed VIN numbers and switched license plates on their cars.
 December 3: Body slammed teenagers in Pontiac who told them they were citizens and
were not resisting.
Michiganders, including U.S. citizens, are being racially profiled simply because they are brown
and low income. ICE and CBP are detaining and deporting immigrants and citizens without
judicial warrants or due process and undermining our democracy. Michiganders who vote and
participate in civic life feel abandoned and fear that our rights are not being protected despite the
trust we placed in you. You have built your career on protecting civil rights, giving voice to the
vulnerable, and restoring trust in the legal system. This moment presents an opportunity for your
office to lead a swift, compassionate, and principled response that reaffirms that Michigan stands
for the rights of all our residents regardless of immigration status.
We respectfully request that your office:

  1. Establish a state-level reporting portal where immigrant families and community
    organizations can submit concerns about detentions, removals, and local cooperation with
    ICE / CBP.
    2. Issue guidance to local law enforcement agencies and school districts clarifying that
    school attendance, family stability, and public safety are core priorities.
    3. Hold ICE / CBP accountable for any violations of Michigan laws.
    We believe you can be the strong voice and advocate our immigrant neighbors need. Many of us
    supported you because we believed you would stand for everyone in Michigan, including
    immigrant families who contribute every day to our economy and communities. We ask you now
    to step up and show leadership.
    Thank you for your time, your public service, and your commitment to the people of Michigan.
    We would like to meet with you to discuss our concerns. We look forward to your action and
    remain willing to assist in any community engagement efforts your office may undertake.
    Sincerely,

 

🗣 Oakland County residents — we need your voice.

On Tuesday, Feb 10 at 9:00 AM, the Legislative Affairs & Government Operations (LAGO) Committee meets, and residents can speak for 3 minutes during public comment.

A proposed resolution has been submitted that would ensure Oakland County buildings remain safe places for residents to access services, attend meetings, and engage with their government — without fear of civil immigration enforcement inside those spaces.

But this only moves forward if we ask.

If you live in Oakland County, please attend and use your 3 minutes to ask commissioners to bring this resolution forward for a full Board vote.

This is about public safety.
This is about access to services.
This is about keeping county government focused on serving residents.

📍 LAGO Committee Meeting
🗓 Tuesday, Feb 10
⏰ 9:00 AM
🎤 Public comment: 3 minutes per speaker

Show up. Speak up. Demand action.

If you are unable to attend, please consider sending an email. Template (complete w/ addresses below!)

TO:  woodwardd@oakgov.com; johnsonb@oakgov.com; luebsp@oakgov.com; ericksongaulta@oakgov.com; spiszm@oakgov.com; gingellm@oakgov.com; hoffm2521@comcast.net; joliatk@oakgov.com; powellan@oakgov.com; nelsonkd@oakgov.com; longc@oakgov.com; weipertpj@oakgov.com; smileyr@oakgov.com; markhamg@oakgov.com; millerw@oakgov.com; charlesy@oakgov.com; taylorlm@oakgov.com; cavellc@oakgov.com; gershensonm@oakgov.com; weaverh@oakgov.com 

CC:  andrewsmb@oakgov.com; mullanw@oakgov.com; equity@oakgov.com; boc@oakgov.com; info@oakgov.com

Subject:   Resolution - Civil immigration enforcement in OC buildings & facilities

Dear Board Chair Woodward, LAGO Chair Johnson, OC Commissioners, and Diversity Officer Weaver, 

I am writing to you as an Oakland County resident to respectfully request your review and consideration of the proposed resolution regarding civil immigration enforcement activities in Oakland County buildings and facilities.

This resolution affirms a simple yet fundamental idea:  Oakland County buildings exist so all residents can safely access public services, participate in civic life, and engage with their local government without fear. It clarifies that civil immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and ensures that County resources, staff, and facilities remain focused on serving the public unless presented with a valid judicial warrant or court order.

Across the country, local governments are taking thoughtful steps to protect public trust and safety while remaining fully compliant with the law. Washtenaw County recently adopted a similar approach, and communities throughout Oakland County have urged their local governments to consider the same. This proposal is carefully written to be legally sound, consistent with Oakland County’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, safety and respectful of the County’s proper role.

Most importantly, this resolution is about maintaining access to services. When residents are afraid to enter public buildings — whether for health services, court services, public meetings, or assistance programs — the entire community is affected.

I respectfully ask that this resolution be referred to the Legislative Affairs and Government Operations Committee for review and then brought forward for consideration by the full Board of Commissioners.

Thank you for your leadership and for your continued work to ensure Oakland County remains a place where all residents can safely engage with their local government.

Sincerely,

First & Last Name

City of [Your City]
Oakland County Resident

[Email/Phone if you feel comfortable]

 

Upcoming events

Building community is an integral part of creating this new model together. So while we are here every day to help you reduce and reuse; we also love being able to offer opportunities to connect, learn, and deepen our roots! Here are a list of upcoming events and how to participate & where you'll find us around town: 

Friday Jan 30th 7-8:30pm: Presentation by Oakland Co. CAFE - We be offering a virtual option because of the huge community response! Link to meeting HERE


February 1st 6-7:30pm: Sound Bath and Tea in the Shop! Grab your spot here.

 

Please Note: As of 12/17 the Ranked Choice Voting campaign is pausing further signature collection. We will keep the other two petitions available, and will offer RCV if they decide to launch a further signature collection campaign. Thank you so much for joining us in this!


    Giving back

    We believe that as a local small-business we have a responsibility and opportunity to give back to our community. We sincerely thank you for partnering with us in your sustainability journey so that we are able to do this! Here are some of the local organizations we support:

     

    Planet Detroit *Impact Partner 

     

    Make Food Not Waste

     

    The Greening of Detroit

    Six Rivers Land Conservancy

    WDET

    One Tree Planted

     

    Clinton River Watershed Coalition

    The Cleanup Club

    Affirmations

    Turning Point, Inc.

    Green Living Science

    Keep Growing Detroit

    Bees in the D

    Corner Shower and Laundry

    University of Detroit Mercy TENN, food justice & sustainability program

    Detroit Community Cat Rescue

    Gamp Camp

    Midwest Access Coalition

    Alternatives for Girls

    The Ruth Ellis Center

    About us

    Walking Lightly, LLC (TM) offers convenient options to help community members live more sustainably with our zero waste store and refillery in Ferndale, MI. We offer local delivery, and now shipping nationwide of solid sustainable products. We want to make it easy to skip the single-use plastic packaging, because we believe in caring for our planet. Walking Lightly is a resource and hub in the community offering terracycling programs, workshops, composting, and information sharing. We also believe that environmentalism is inextricably tied to environmental justice. As we grow this business we are committed to being a part of both micro and macro efforts to grow our communities in sustainability and equity. 

    Walking Lightly’s founder, Tessa Benziger, is a social worker and mother of three who has always been sustainably-minded. She couldn’t find low waste home and body goods conveniently in her community, so in 2019 she decided to create the solution. A poster in Tessa’s childhood bedroom with a quote from Barbara Ward has served as inspiration for the name. And indeed, “We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the Earth as its other creatures do.”

    In Walking Lightly, we hope you will find a partner in making the lower-waste choices that work best for you. We are committed to being a non-judgmental resource, and we think that any efforts to reduce waste are to be celebrated! So ask us questions, tell us what works for you, and let us know how we can help. We are so grateful to be a part of your sustainability journey!

    Founder, Tessa, inside zero waste store holding empty glass jar next to sign explaining how to refill.

    Land Acknowledgement: Walking Lightly operates on land that was obtained in unconscionable ways, from indigenous peoples of the Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ tribe.

    FAQs

    FAQs:

    Q: How do I refill?

    A:  1. Choose your container. You can purchase a bottle, use a deposit jar, or you can bring your own containers (Containers must be clean and dry, please. This is per the manufacturers of the products, as they need to ensure the integrity of their product). We also have community donations available that we have re-cleaned and sanitized.

    2. Get the weight of empty jar (or tare). Weigh your container at the self-weigh station, grab a tag to record the tare weight as well as product information.

    3. Fill your container. Get as much or as little of the beautiful, people and planet-safe product you would like.

    4. Make your purchase. Bring your containers to the register and we will weigh them, subtract the tare weight, and voila, you pay only for the product you want! 

    5. Repeat & Tell all your friends about us!  

     

     

    Q: Are products more expensive than buying them at a big store or online in a plastic bottle?

    A: Sometimes yes and sometimes no. There are a few reasons for this, and also some good news. We work with closed-loop suppliers. This means that our partners take on the added work of collecting and sanitizing containers that they ship in. This costs more than having you (or us) throw away, or 'recycle' a container. You know what's cheap? Virgin plastic. But while the monetary cost is small, the environmental cost is great. Products we carry are also made with ingredients that are safe for people and the planet. These quality ingredients are often more expensive than cheap detergents and chemicals, or ingredients like Palm Oil (the extraction of which has devastating effects on the environment). Lastly, partners we work with are also paying their employees living wages. So, sometimes refilling may cost more. Sometimes it doesn't. It depends. But here's the good news: We are investing in a circular economy, and by shopping here, you are, too! As companies see consumers investing this model, more will be willing to participate (financial incentive), and this will drive prices down and make sustainable options more affordable. Also, we are happy to help you find the most affordable products! And while some home and body products can carry these higher prices for these reasons, we've found that spices, herbs and teas tend to cost just a fraction of the cost of pre-packaged counterparts. Yay!

     

    Q: This sounds like a lot of effort. Is it worth it?

    A:  We are all constantly marketed that life is busy and everything needs to be fast and convenient. But fast and convenient has become synonymous with 'throw away' and we are tired of living in a 'throw away' world. We just have this one home and think that we should take care of it. We know now that recycling is not the answer. Reducing and reusing needs to be our focus. And that means refilling! We have the ability to make an impact by reducing our own household waste, but also sending a message as a larger community reducing our waste. We are voting with our dollars for the world we want to see.

     

    Q: So what's the benefit of refilling at my local refill shop instead of just buying online?

    A: If you choose to shop locally, you get the benefit of refilling exactly what you want and need. We promise to be transparent and honest with you, absolutely zero greenwashing here! You also get to support a company that is supporting your community. We make donations to local community organizations (some past donations have been to: Corner Shower and Laundry; Keep Growing Detroit; Affirmations; Make Food Not Waste Detroit, Planet Detroit) and we host educational workshops, and share resources. If you have some ideas for ways that we can help support our community, give us a holler! We are here to support the community and we are so grateful to you for supporting us!

     

    Q: I'm so busy that it's hard for me to make it in, can I still get refills?

    A: Our local delivery option allows you to have the zero waste goods you need delivered right to your doorstep! Local delivery is fast, free for orders $25+ and is a great option for busy lives. Bulk liquid refills come by default in sanitized community donation containers. If you would like them in a deposit jar or a purchased bottle, add them to your cart and send a 'note to seller' to let us know which items you would like in which container. Please leave a cooler out on your porch once you place your order (delivery is same day up to four days) to protect your goods from weather and nosy squirrels (yes, they've been known to steal a lotion bar or two). If you live in a locked apartment building, please let us know where is best/safest to leave your package.

     

    Q: I love this idea but I don't have a refillery in my community. What can I do?

    A: Never fear! This model is growing, so let's definitely keep spreading the word and building this circular economy! Check out the Refillery Collective Directory here to see if you already have an option in your area. We now offer shipping for folks who are outside of this local community and still want zero waste goods. We ship plastic-free, using the USPS (because they are already coming to your doorstep every day, so no added drives) and you have the option of additionally making your delivery carbon-neutral. Shipping is free for orders $100+.

     

    Q: What does 'closed loop' mean?

    A: Closed loop means that a supplier takes their shipping container back to sanitize and reuse. Most of our suppliers operate with this model, and the ones that don't either only use already repurposed containers, or we have a repurpose in place.

     

    Have a question you don’t see here? Shoot us an email: together@walkinglightly.net and we’ll get you an answer. Thanks for being here to read this! We’re really grateful for your interest.



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