Innovation

Entrepreneur and life-long environmentalist Tina Solak created The Refill Market in 2021 in order to offer low-waste shopping to her local South Jersey community. As depicted in the establishment of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, responsible consumption, climate action, and life below water are all indicative of practices that lead to sustainability. Ms. Solak exemplifies these characteristics through refill and zero waste services. The Refill Market gives customers the chance to utilize reusable glass containers composed of natural ingredients that may be refilled with personal and home care supplies. The business hopes to initiate sustainable action in the daily life of the consumer.

Ms. Solak’s business is the only refill business in the Township of Haddon, New Jersey. In fact, there are very few refill businesses in the whole state of New Jersey. Tina’s move towards innovation sends a message that the rest of New Jersey needs to hear: to lean into sustainability and embrace the use of glass and aluminum goods over plastic.

Inspiration

Growing up as one of four children in a Korean immigrant household, Tina Solak was introduced to the low-waste lifestyle at a very young age. She describes herself as “always being environmentally conscious,” despite the limitations in recycling options available 30 years ago. Her parents ensured that household items, especially food, were never wasted. Years later, when Ms. Solak became a wife and mother to her two boys and two dogs, she was appalled at how much plastic she was tossing in the recycling bin every week. She desired “a place to shop that would allow her to bring her own containers” in her local community. While recycling options have improved since the eighties, Tina wanted to take sustainability one step further. Thus, the idea for The Refill Market was born.

Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic hit the world following the inception of her business idea. However, Ms. Solak used the “extra” time during quarantine to devote herself to building out her solo business venture. She spent the rest of 2020 creating a meticulous business plan, finding the best location for her innovative idea, and researching the best products to stock in her store. One year later, her drive and passion for her work remains the same. She states that the best part of what she does “is making the environmental choice easier” for the locals in her community. She understands that the sustainable choice is not always the most convenient, and she aims to refine common consumer behaviors by changing the way consumers shop for household products.

Overall impact

According to the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry, The Refill Market had refilled 787 containers in the first three months of opening. Based on these numbers, Tina Solak has effectively kept thousands of plastic containers out of the waste stream at this point in time. Moreover, The Refill Market’s in-store recycling programs offer easy disposal of reusable products to the public. Ms. Solak has recycled thousands of writing instruments, packaging, crayons, oral care products, nutrition products, water filters, razors, plastic bags, and packaging, which would have otherwise ended up in the garbage. In addition to her business model, Ms. Solak continues her sustainable action in her business practice. She partners with multiple suppliers who take back their containers for reuse, closing “the loop” and keeping plastic out of the waste stream. She also makes an effort to reuse as much packaging material as possible, including cardboard boxes, packing peanuts, and brown craft paper. She goes to the extent of donating her extra material to other local small businesses.

Business benefit

Since people’s awareness of the environment is increasing, more people tend to look for environmentally friendly shopping methods to be considerate and help prevent further environmental damage. Therefore, the demand for businesses like The Refill Market has been increasing over time. Since Tina Solak opened her business in 2021, she has accumulated a loyal customer base. She reports that she is the sole full-time employee at The Refill Market with one per-diem employee. In addition to the refill sales, the shop also sells organic and environment friendly personal hygiene items such as razors, toothbrushes, soap bars, scrubs, and even some pet-care items such as towels, groomers, and shampoo.

The Refill Market is a for-profit business. Tina stated that, “the business has been slow growing, but it is growing, but if I reached a point of plateauing or losing customers or business, I would turn to public relations and e-commerce practices”. As indicated by this statement, Tina’s business is on the rise and there is no present need for her to engage in alternative innovative practices to build her business. This is refreshing to hear, as Tina’s business is the only refill business in the Township of Haddon New Jersey.

Social and environmental benefit

This innovation does not only benefit the environment, but it benefits the customers as well. In regards to the environment, reducing the use of plastic leads to a smaller carbon footprint as well as less waste. Tina Solak aims to provide a friendly and “judgment-free” shopping experience to new and inexperienced low-waste shoppers. When it comes to the consumer, The Refill Market ensures their wellbeing, since all the products are organically formed.

While many may think that a zero-waste future is impossible, Tina Solak is on the forefront of a global paradigm shift. Low and zero waste stores are exponentially growing, even large supermarket chains are beginning to adopt the plastic-free trend. She has made a tremendous impact in her community and the environment by believing that every person can make a difference for the collective, no matter how small.

Interview

Tina Solak, Founder