Best zero-waste general store

Chicago Reader / by Kerry Reid / March 6, 2025    

Most of us have become accustomed to carrying our own reusable bags to the grocery store. But for going the next step in zero-waste shopping, it’s hard to beat Lincoln Square’s Eco Flamingo, which opened in 2020. Here you can find a carefully curated selection of, as their website says, “package-free, plastic-free, environmentally responsible, cruelty-free, and fair-trade options.” Cofounder Bethany Barbouti says, “We now carry over 400 refillable products including laundry, hand, and dish soap, grains, snacks, coffee, herbs, and spices.”

The procedure is simple: shoppers bring their own clean containers, fill them with the desired items, and record the weight using the store’s electronic tagging system to get the price. Behind the scenes, Barbouti and her partners (Alexis Chavez, Chicago playwright Mia McCullough, and Inaya Ali) work closely with producers dedicated to expanding their sustainability practices, maintaining what Barbouti calls “circular, closed-loop systems, swapping empty containers for refilled ones with our suppliers.” Read More Here.