Amazon, Target, Grove Collaborative, all places known for their eco-friendly items. Whether an online store or brick-and-mortar, these are some of the most popular retailers for the eco-conscious.
But what if I were to say there are stores hiding in plain sight that you may have never considered to be eco-friendly retailers?
I know how overwhelming and confusing it is to shop in the “eco-friendly revolution”, trust me, I’m still struggling to this day… But with this newfound tip, it doesn’t have to be so hard!
Keep reading to get all the “stealthy sustainable” details!
The Stores You’ve Been Missing on Your Eco-Friendly Journey:
Discount Department Stores!
Any store that sells discounted goods that may have been bought from other retailers, liquidations, or other primary sources to resell to consumers.
These stores are absolutely brimming with possibilities, and although they possess a lot of un-sustainable items, there is gold to be found in each store when shopping!
The Stores in Question: (Individual Names)
T.J. Maxx:
This store has an excellent selection of all things consumers need with a cult following almost as deep as Target. And selling sustainable items is no different!
Sustainable/Eco-Friendly Things I’ve Found, (and purchased), at T.J. Maxx:
- Cotton Loofah Back-Scrubber Strap (plastic packaging)
- Reusable Mesh Produce Pouches (cardboard packaging)
- 10oz. bars of soap (paper wrapped!)
- (2) Glass Hand Soap Dispensers with Soap Included
- Soy Candles (glass jars)
- Wooden Muscle-Massaging Beads
- Bamboo Fiber Sponges (cardboard packaging)
They also have things like bamboo toothbrushes, travel water bottles and coffee mugs, glass packaged spices, essential oils, and loads more that I can’t conjure at the moment.
A small #eco-hack for this store, as of July 2021, they have lifted some Covid-safety protocols by allowing reusable shopping bags back into the system! So, I encourage everyone to either buy their reusable shopping bags for $1 and use them at checkout, use your own reusable shopping bag, or simply tell the cashier that you do not need a bag, so we can all cut down on single-use plastic! I’ve been using all 3 methods the past few trips, and the workers are more than happy to work with customers on it!
This also includes all other stores under the TJX company, like TK Maxx (in Europe), Marshalls, HomeGoods, HomeSense, Sierra (in the United States), and HomeSense, Marshalls, Winners in Canada. (I can only speak to T.J. Maxx, as I only have this chain store available in my area).
Ross Dress for Less:
This is a store just like T.J. Maxx, offering the same department items and deeply discounted goods. I believe they aren’t as national as most retailers, but they’re definitely a great store to check out if you haven’t before!
Sustainable/Eco-Friendly Things I’ve Found, (and purchased), at Ross:
- Set of Shampoo and Conditioner soap bars. (This is my best find to date, bought 2 bars together for $8, such a great deal!!) (cardboard packaging)
- Metal Carafe for brewing espresso. (one plastic tag)
- Metal Straws with Pipe Cleaner (cardboard packaging)
- Soy Candles (glass jars)
They also have sustainable items like reusable k-cups, glass oils, essential oils, bamboo and silicone kitchen utensils, reusable produce bags, reusable travel cups, and lots more that I can’t recall at the moment!
Same #eco-hack as above, if you ask them to not put your items in a bag, they’ll work with you on whatever you prefer!
These stores are just a few of many that exist in our commercially-overwhelming world of today.
The primary retail stores are excellent choices, with lots of variety, but don’t knock the discount department stores when you find yourself in need of new sustainability items!
If you have a discount department store that I missed, please put it in the comments for all to learn from. Feel free to also add your own personal experiences with these stores and their eco-friendly items in the comments!
I will be updating this page as new information arrives to me, as well as product photos of items listed above.
