Zero Waste Store

Packaging

All orders are shipped with plastic-free, 100% biodegradable materials. This includes recycled boxes, compostable labels, water-activated paper tape, and corn-starch packing peanuts. Product packaging is similarly eco-friendly. For example, the ZWS lip balms come in 100% home-compostable paper tubes. Other items use recyclable or refillable containers (e.g. glass jars for floss refills) and FSC-certified paper for packaging.

ZWS avoids petroleum-based inks or coatings; product labels use low-impact dyes and inks when applicable (supported by OEKO-TEX standards on textiles.

Ingredient Sustainability

The brand prioritizes natural, plant-based, and certified organic inputs, avoids controversial or unsustainable ingredients (no palm oil, no petrochemicals, no GMOs), and shows consideration for sourcing impacts. The company provides transparency on ingredient lists (every product’s full ingredients are published), though some sourcing specifics (e.g. whether beeswax is from ethical beekeepers or if coconut oil is fair trade) are not publicly detailed.

Energy Use and Footprint

Zero Waste Store exhibits a proactive approach to managing and mitigating its carbon footprint relative to its size. Notably, as of 2023 the company became Certified Climate Neutral, meaning it has measured its annual greenhouse gas emissions, implemented reduction plans, and offsets all remaining emissions to achieve net carbon neutrality. Every customer order is shipped carbon-neutral, with the emissions from shipping (and presumably operations) offset via verified carbon credits.

In addition to offsets, ZWS takes steps to reduce emissions upstream: it sources many products domestically or by sea freight (e.g. shampoo bars are handmade in the USA, and heavier goods are likely shipped by freight rather than air).

Waste Management

All ZWS Essentials products aim to eliminate single-use waste by offering durable, reusable alternatives. For example, their reusable paper towels last for years and are compostable at end-of-life. The brand offers refills or replacement parts to extend product life and avoid waste.

While detailed info on manufacturing waste is limited, there are hints of sustainable practices. The shampoo bars are made by a small-batch process (likely yielding minimal waste and using every batch to completion). The cotton textile products are made in a responsible facility (possibly capturing and reusing fabric offcuts). Additionally, ZWS’s partnership with TerraCycle in their own operations suggests they recycle or repurpose any unavoidable waste.

Business Model

Zero Waste Store’s business model leans strongly toward “slow consumption” principles, though as a retail platform it also employs some growth tactics. The company curates a focused, evergreen inventory of in-house essentials rather than constantly chasing trends. ZWS Essentials products are mostly timeless, practical items.

Zero Waste Store clearly prioritizes non-toxic, body-safe formulations. Every product is free of known harmful chemicals such as parabens, triclosan, phthalates, heavy metals, BPA, etc. Furthermore, some products carry safety-oriented certifications or claims: for instance, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 on textiles ensures no harmful substances at levels that could affect humans, and dermatologist-tested hypoallergenic claims on laundry sheets suggest safety testing beyond regulatory minimums.

ZWS’s textile products (like the reusable cotton towels and facial rounds) are made with GOTS-certified organic cotton. The GOTS standard not only covers organic agriculture but also includes social criteria for manufacturing (such as no child labor, fair wages, and safe working conditions in the textile mills). For products made domestically, labor regulations in the US provide assurances of minimum wage and workplace safety, and the small-batch nature likely means they are produced by a small team or partner business. For products made in China, like textiles, transparency could be improved. ZWS doesn’t publish a supply chain report or list factories. 

The company is a member of 1% for the Planet, which means it pledges 1% of its annual profits to non-profit organizations focused on environmental causes. In practice, ZWS has long-term partnerships with at least two environmental NGOs: Conservation Florida and Rainforest Trust.