Sustainability

At re_, sustainability means thinking beyond the buzzword.

It’s not just about what a product is made of — it’s about how it’s sourced, used, and returned to the earth (or reused).

Here's what it means to us:

✅ Sourced thoughtfully
→ From renewable, ethical, or waste-reducing materials — with transparency around origin, farming, and labor practices.

✅ Designed with intention
→ We choose materials that are reusable, refillable, compostable, or truly recyclable. Packaging is minimal, functional, and circular whenever possible.

✅ Supports systems, not just products
→ We offer refills, bulk options, and returnable containers to create closed-loop systems that keep waste out of landfills and reduce the need for new resources.

✅ Safe for people and planet
→ Ingredients and materials are vetted to avoid harm — no greenwashing, no toxic shortcuts. This includes being striving to be plastic-free, toxin-free, and mindful of microplastic pollution.

✅ Transparent end-of-life
→ Whether it's recyclable, compostable, or reusable, we clearly explain how to dispose of or reuse everything we sell — and we’re honest when something isn’t perfect.

Sustainability is a full-circle practice. It’s about reducing harm, restoring balance, and rethinking consumption.

Below is a list of terms and materials we use, how we define them and what to do with them when they've reached their end of life →

Characteristics

Bulk Store / Refillery

Products sold by weight or volume, usually without packaging.

✅ Reduces single-use waste and allows flexible quantities.

→ Works best with customer-supplied containers or store-provided returnables.

⚠️ Some upstream packaging may still be involved — transparency matters. At re_ we strive to source all our products with the least amount of packaging possible. If you're curious about a specific item, just ask! → support@regrocery.co

Closed-Loop

A system where materials are continuously reused, refilled, or recycled.

✅ Reduces the need for virgin resources and keeps materials out of the landfill.

→ Includes refill programs and packaging made from fully recycled content.

⚠️ Not all recycling is closed-loop — true closed-loop means same-material recovery and reuse.

Low-Waste

A more flexible, realistic term than “zero-waste.”

✅ Focuses on reducing waste through practical choices.

→ Encourages reuse, refill, composting, and thoughtful disposal.

Package-Free

Sold without disposable or single-use packaging.

✅ Eliminates packaging waste entirely.

→ Common for bar soaps, produce, and select bulk goods.

⚠️ Not all products can be package-free due to hygiene, safety, or legal requirements.

Plant-Based

Made primarily from plants or plant-derived materials.

✅ Often renewable, compostable, or biodegradable — especially when minimally processed.

→ Some “plant-based plastics” (like PLA) still require industrial composting.

Plastic-Free

No petroleum-based plastic.

✅ Usually easier to reuse, recycle, or compost.

→ Often made from paper, glass, metal, or plant materials.

Single-Use

Designed to be used once and then discarded.

❌ Typically contributes to landfill waste, plastic pollution, and resource depletion.

→ Includes items like disposable utensils, takeout containers, plastic wrap, and packaged goods.

✅ At re_, we prioritize alternatives — refillable, compostable, or package-free options — wherever possible.

⚠️ Even compostable or recyclable single-use items have environmental costs. Reuse is always better when possible.

Zero-Waste

A design system that keeps materials out of landfills and incinerators.

✅ Prioritizes refill, reuse, and closed-loop systems.

⚠️ A “zero-waste” label doesn’t mean no impact — it reflects intent and design.

Ingredients

Organic

Grown or made without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or GMOs.

✅ Better for soil, ecosystems, and farm workers.

→ USDA Organic is the most widely recognized certification in the U.S.

Non-GMO

Contains no genetically modified organisms.

→ Often paired with organic, but not the same.

⚠️ Doesn’t address chemical use or environmental impact beyond genetic modification.

Vegan

Contains no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.

✅ Aligns with animal welfare ethics and can reduce environmental impact.

⚠️ Vegan doesn’t always mean low-waste — look for vegan items that are also plastic-free or compostable.

Paraben-Free

No parabens — synthetic preservatives linked to hormone disruption.

✅ Found in safer personal care products like lotions, shampoos, and deodorants.

Phthalate-Free

Contains no phthalates — chemicals linked to hormone disruption.

✅ Safer in personal care, packaging, and home goods.

→ Look for “fragrance-free” or transparent ingredient labels.

Sulfate-Free

Contains no harsh foaming agents like SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) or SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate).

✅ Gentler on skin, scalp, and hair + it's safer for waterways

⚠️ SLS and SLES are commonly used in soaps, shampoos, and cleaners — but they can strip natural oils, cause irritation, and pollute aquatic ecosystems.

Natural Flavors

Derived from real food sources like fruits, herbs, or spices.

⚠️ The term is broad and not always transparent.

✅ At re_, all natural flavors used are certified organic — grown without synthetic pesticides or additives.

Materials

Aluminum

Lightweight and endlessly recyclable.

✅ Saves 95% of the energy compared to producing new aluminum.

♻️ Rinse before recycling → dirty or lined aluminum often gets rejected.

→ Foil should be balled up (at least 2 inches) to avoid being lost during sorting.

⚠️ Foil with food or plastic coating isn’t recyclable or compostable.

Bamboo

A fast-growing, renewable grass.

✅ Naturally biodegradable and compostable (when untreated).

→ Used in utensils, toothbrushes, and textiles.

♻️ Compost raw bamboo if free from coatings or glues.

⚠️ Over-processing (into rayon, etc.) reduces sustainability.

Cellulose

A natural polymer found in plants — what makes up cotton, paper, and some packaging.

✅ Fully biodegradable and compostable.

✅ Breaks down more easily than synthetic materials.

⚠️ In landfills, may take years due to lack of oxygen and microbes.

Coconut Fiber

Coarse fiber from coconut husks (coir).

✅ Compostable and biodegradable.

→ Found in liners, mats, brushes, and soil blocks.

⚠️ Breaks down slowly — shred it for better home compost results.

Cotton

Soft, plant-based fiber.

✅ Biodegradable and compostable — if untreated.

→ Look for organic or undyed cotton without synthetic blends or chemical finishes.

♻️ Compost natural cotton; recycle clean textiles through specialty programs.

⚠️ Conventional cotton uses a lot of water, pesticides, and monoculture farming.

Glass

Made from natural minerals like sand and limestone.

✅ 100% recyclable — forever, without quality loss.

✅ Reusable and non-toxic — perfect for food, drinks, and refill systems.

♻️ Most curbside programs accept glass (including broken glass in LA County).

⚠️ Glass is heavy — local reuse is more sustainable than shipping.

Microplastics

Tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in size, resulting from the breakdown of larger plastics or released directly in products (like exfoliants or synthetic fabrics).

❌ Not biodegradable — persist in the environment for decades.

⚠️ Commonly found in oceans, soil, and even human bodies.

→ Shed from clothing, packaging, tires, and more.

Mixed Materials

Items made from multiple bonded materials (e.g., plastic + foil, paper + plastic).

❌ Usually not recyclable or compostable — even if each component is.

→ Common examples: chip bags, lined cartons, zipper pouches.

♻️ Choose single-material items when possible.

⚠️ “Recyclable” labeling on mixed materials is often misleading — check local guidelines.

Nanoplastics

Extremely small plastic particles — typically under 100 nanometers (smaller than microplastics).

❌ Invisible to the eye and can pass through biological barriers (like cell walls).

⚠️ Emerging research suggests potential health and ecological risks.

→ Often formed as microplastics degrade further in the environment.

Palm Fiber

Derived from leaves or stems of palm plants.

✅ Biodegradable and compostable.

→ Common in plates, baskets, and scrub pads.

⚠️ Cut into smaller pieces for faster composting at home.

Paper

Made from cellulose fibers — naturally biodegradable, recyclable, and compostable.

→ Clean paper: recycle it to keep the fibers in use.

→ Soiled, greasy, or wet: compost it instead.

⚠️ Coated or laminated paper (with foil, wax, or plastic) usually isn’t recyclable or compostable. Always check the label or ask us.

Plastisol

A soft, flexible sealing compound found inside many metal jar lids.

❌ Not recyclable or compostable — plastisol is a type of non-removable plastic that must be landfilled.

♻️ The metal lid itself is recyclable, but only if the plastisol liner is removed — which isn’t always easy or practical.

→ If possible, remove the liner and recycle the metal. If not, recycle the lid as-is — most facilities will burn off the liner during processing.

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)

A water-soluble synthetic polymer.

✅ Biodegrades in wastewater treatment systems.

❌ Not biodegradable in soil, ocean, or home compost.

Recycled Content

Made with materials that have already been used and recovered, rather than virgin (new) resources.
✅ Reduces the need for raw materials and lowers environmental impact.
→ Can include post-consumer (from used products) and post-industrial (from manufacturing scraps).
⚠️ The amount of recycled content varies — look for specific percentages or certifications when possible.

Rubber

Natural Rubber

✅ Sourced from tree sap — renewable and biodegradable.

⚠️ Not ideal for home composting — needs time, soil, and microbes.

Synthetic Rubber

❌ Made from petroleum-based chemicals — not biodegradable.

♻️ Sometimes recyclable through specialized facilities.

→ Best reused as long as possible.

→ Natural rubber can sometimes be composted industrially.

→ Synthetic rubber may be repurposed into mulch or mats.

Sisal Fiber

Strong plant fiber from agave leaves.

✅ Natural and biodegradable.

→ Used in twine, mats, and brushes.

⚠️ Breaks down slowly — best in industrial compost or patient home compost.

Stainless Steel

Durable and corrosion-resistant.

✅ 100% recyclable and often made with recycled content.

→ Great for reusables like containers, scoops, and straws.

♻️ Should be taken to scrap metal or recycling centers — not the curbside bin.

⚠️ Its environmental impact is lowest when reused long-term.

Silicone

Flexible material made from sand and synthetics.

✅ Durable, heat-resistant, and non-toxic — great for reusable bakeware and containers.

❌ Not biodegradable or compostable.

♻️ Recyclable only through specialty facilities.

→ Reuse for as long as possible.

⚠️ Doesn’t break down in the environment or landfill.

Wax Paper

Used for wrapping cheeses, butter, or similar goods.

🚫 Coated with wax — not recyclable or compostable.

✅ Straus Family Creamery uses renewable materials in their paper packaging.

→ Currently, Straus is exploring BPI certification for compostability

Wool

A natural fiber from sheep (or alpacas, goats, etc.).

✅ Renewable, biodegradable, and durable.

→ Works well in cleaning products, textiles, and dryer balls.

♻️ Compost untreated wool or reuse it; recycle through textile programs.

⚠️ Not vegan — ethics depend on farming practices.

Store-Specific Materials

Barcode Stickers

✅ BPA/BPS-free thermal paper

✅ FSC-certified or recycled stock

♻️ Recyclable with regular paper — no need to remove from product.

Masking Tape

Our 're_' brand tape used in packaging, labeling, and sealing paper bags.

✅ Made of paper

⚠️ The adhesive has not been tested for compostability

❌ Not recyclable

🚫 At this time, masking tape used at re_ should be disposed of in the trash.

→ We’re exploring better options with compostable adhesives and cleaner end-of-life profiles.

Packing Tape

Used to seal cardboard shipping boxes.

✅ Made of paper

✅ Uses a water-activated adhesive

♻️ Recyclable with cardboard

✅ Compostable (in both home and industrial systems)

→ A low-waste alternative to plastic tape — no need to remove before recycling the box.

Receipt Paper

✅ BPA- and BPS-free

♻️ Recyclable if clean and dry

🚫 Not compostable (still coated)

→ Digital receipts encouraged when possible.

End-of-Life Options

Biodegradable

Breaks down naturally with the help of microorganisms like bacteria or fungi.

⚠️ Does not guarantee the item breaks down quickly, safely, or in all environments (like landfills, oceans, or backyard compost).

Compostable

Breaks down into non-toxic, natural materials in composting conditions.

→ Home compostable: Breaks down in backyard systems.

→ Commercially compostable: Needs high heat and industrial conditions.

⚠️ Not all compostable items are accepted in local compost programs. Check with your municipality.

Recyclable

Can be collected, processed, and turned into something new — if your local facility accepts it.

♻️ Check with your city’s guidelines — not all materials labeled “recyclable” are actually accepted.

⚠️ Items with food residue, mixed materials, or unclear plastic types are often discarded.

→ Just because something has a recycling symbol or number doesn’t mean it’s recyclable everywhere — these symbols indicate plastic type, not recyclability.

Refillable / Reusable

Made to be used over and over again.

✅ Most sustainable when paired with a system (like our refill stations).