July 5 – DICKINSON – As we peer up into the night sky, more than a billion stars twinkle in our galaxy, however, if we focus on the horizon, a staggering statistic reveals a view much less enchanting: the oceans are polluted with nearly 51 trillion microplastic particles, or 500 times more than the number of stars in our galaxy, according to the United Nations.
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic debris in the environment that result from the disposal or degradation of consumer products and industrial waste.
According to Pew Research, 72% of American adults are using less single-use plastic to help protect the environment, believing it makes a big difference to the environment.
He was venturing down the rabbit hole of microplastics research from microfiber towels that put Zero Waste stores and the importance of sustainability on Dickinson company owner Megan Allcorn’s radar a while ago. almost ten years.
Now Allcorn shares its own storefront, The Clean Home Shop and Refillery, in downtown Dickinson, providing the community with a more sustainable way to shop, minimizing plastic packaging and incorporating locally made products into the possible.
“We use microfibers for cleaning and I had no idea they were washing microplastics into our waterways. And so I went down this rabbit hole of plastic pollution and then I came across Zero Waste stores and I was like, ‘This is what we need. This is where we’re going to go,'” Allcorn said.
Initially starting out as a cleaning business to occupy herself as a stay-at-home mom, Allcorn never anticipated that her business would grow into a full-fledged store a decade from now.
“I was just a busy person and I had a baby at home and I had the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom. I needed to do something, but we were also new in town and didn’t I didn’t have family in town and I wasn’t comfortable with a babysitter so I started cleaning with my baby on my hip and then it grew from there,” Allcorn said.
The Clean Home Shop and Refillery offers a unique shopping experience where shoppers bring their own reusable containers to fill and reuse as they embark on their plastic-free journey to reduce waste and embrace container reuse. Alternatively, the store offers donated pots as well as a selection of pots for customers to choose from, catering to different levels of sustainability.
From all-purpose cleaners and bath bombs to castile soap and dishwasher detergent, shoppers can simply refill their product by the ounce or unit, ensuring customers only pay for what they need .
“So when you bring a jar or you borrow a jar or buy a jar, we bring it here and we tear the weight off, which means we weigh the jar and we take that weight off. So you fill it with n “any product you want. And then you just weigh the product. So you only pay for the product,” Allcorn said.
The refill section of the store mainly focuses on essential items like dish soap, laundry soap, and household cleaners, which are known to contain harmful chemicals. These products are also the easiest swaps for those looking to switch to non-toxic travel, Allcorn said.
“So the most toxic household items you have are your dish soap, your laundry soap, your household cleaners, so I always say let’s start with one of those. And what’s cool about those This is because we have a lot of these options on our refill table. And so I let people know that you can get as little or as much as you want. You want to try a load of lye. Let’s take a tablespoon of laundry soap. That’s all it takes,” Allcorn said.
In addition to supply table products, the shop offers a wide selection of products, many of which are local. From reusable paper towels and candles from Bowman to artwork from Hebron, Allcorn aims to feature an entirely local inventory, further strengthening the store’s ties to the community.
Building a community around a sustainable lifestyle is one of the most rewarding aspects of Allcorn’s journey. Engaging with customers at vendor shows and witnessing their excitement and curiosity about the store’s offerings is a rewarding experience, she said.
“I say to everyone who passes by the store if you come and listen to my schpeel, let me tell you what we do. It’s the most rewarding. People who want to come and listen… But my favorite part of that Journey is the vendor show we did and we saw the excitement of community members who had no idea what we were doing where we are we are here and they actually show excitement, and then the next week seeing them walk into the store,” Allcorn said.
Ultimately, Allcorn’s mission is not just to do our part, but to inspire and educate the community about sustainable practices.
“I’m not a woman who talks a lot, but it’s important. My kids and I love kayaking and when we go out on the river and we see all the trash in there. It’s like we can do something about it. We might not make a huge difference, but the little we do at home where we have control of it matters,” Allcorn said.
With every small step the community takes, whether it’s filling a bottle of laundry soap or choosing eco-friendly alternatives, the store believes that collective efforts can make a substantial difference. Through simple redemptions and sustainable shopping, this low-waste retail store is leading the way to a more environmentally conscious community.