maison jar brooklyn - small swaps big impact
As part of our sustainability campaign this month, where we're encouraging everyday eco-conscious swaps, André a buyer from our Greenpoint store popped over to Maison Jar, our zero-waste neighbors just down the block. He chatted with founder Larasati Vitoux about how small habits can make a big impact, the joy of ditching packaged goods, and how Maison Jar makes sustainable living feel easy (and inviting) for everyone.
Read on to learn why this local gem should be your next stop after shopping at our Greenpoint store.
So what exactly is Maison Jar and how did the idea come to life?
Maison Jar is a low-waste refillery and grocery store located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. A one-stop-shop for local and quality food, personal care, and home essentials - all without unnecessary packaging. We are here to help the community make the best choices for their health and well-being, while improving their impact on our environment.
What inspired the no-packaging, no-bag, bring-your-own-container model?
The idea of opening Maison Jar came to me while visiting my home country of France in September 2020. On that trip, a friend brought me to an epicerie vrac, or "package-free" store. I was instantly convinced by the model: minimalist, eco-conscious, local and community focused. I have always been passionate about food, the environment and trying my best to consume consciously. With a background in the food industry, I felt ready to take the leap and bring the concept to my own neighborhood, Greenpoint.
Can you walk us through what a first-timer should expect when they walk in?
Most of our products are sold in bulk from silos, scoop bins, jars and drum pumps. We highly encourage our customers to bring in their own reusable containers to shop at the store. The process is easy. We have scale stations at the store for customers to weigh their empty containers. They then write the empty weight on each container, and that’s it! They can refill their containers with as little or as much product as they need, and we will do the substraction of the weight of the container at the register so they only pay for what is inside. We also offer free recycled paper kraft bags and free clean and sanitized donated jars for any customers that didn’t bring containers.
How do you hope shopping here changes people’s relationship with consumption?
The idea is that little habits make a big difference. By providing a guiding hand in shopping more consciously for food and everyday products, Maison Jar hopes to inspire customers to naturally change other habits and aspects of their lives to be more eco-friendly.
What’s the most unexpected item you sell that people are obsessed with?
Our matcha almonds! Some customers buy pounds of it :)
What’s one thing people always get wrong or assume about sustainable shopping?
People assume sustainable shopping is only for “eco experts” instead of realizing it’s for everyone making small, doable changes. A lot of customers might feel intimidated or guilty if they’re not already perfectly zero-waste — when actually, our store is about progress, not perfection. We’re making it easier for people to take small steps, not asking them to overhaul their whole lives overnight.
Do you remember the first ever customer that walked in? Or any memorable customer interactions? What did they buy or how did the interaction go?
I will always remember the two twins, Joe and Sean, when they first came to the store. They had such an amazing energy, very friendly and committed to vegan and low waste living. They offered to do an event together at the store to bring in more customers. They dressed up with tomato and eggplant costumes and were telling passerby on the street to come in. They are now good friends!
We encourage all of our Beacon's Closet customers to check out Maison Jar for themselves, it's just a quick 3-minute walk from our Greenpoint store. See more from André and Odera’s visit on our instagram:
you can find more from Maison Jar at maisonjar.nyc and on instagram @maisonjar.nyc
article by andré molina