Years ago, news about environmental damage like pollution, microplastics, and global warming left me overwhelmed and deeply distressed. As a new mom who quickly returned to work, I felt utterly powerless to make any real change.

Then one day, while making chili con carne, I was shocked by the two full bags of plastic packaging waste from just one meal. This moment was a poignant turning point. Suddenly, every supermarket visit painfully highlighted the excessive packaging surrounding our food.

Feeling guilty and frustrated about the amount of waste I produced, I decided to reduce my household’s waste. I began by trying to make everything from scratch, including bathroom essentials. But I quickly realized that making items like deodorant and toothpaste at home was time-consuming and tricky.

Thankfully, I found small companies that made zero-waste, natural products. Supporting them allowed me to continue my journey toward a sustainable lifestyle more manageably. Inspired by these discoveries, I dreamed of creating a space where people could easily access these fantastic zero-waste products and embrace an eco-friendly lifestyle without stress.

That’s how Haarlem got its first and so far only zero waste shop.