{"id":27596,"date":"2019-11-27T09:49:01","date_gmt":"2019-11-27T14:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/?p=27596"},"modified":"2025-07-02T04:12:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T08:12:36","slug":"how-one-woman-and-her-container-sparked-a-canada-wide-reuse-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/27596\/how-one-woman-and-her-container-sparked-a-canada-wide-reuse-program\/","title":{"rendered":"How One Woman and her Container Sparked a Canada-wide Reuse Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to the #ReuseRevolution<\/strong>, where carrying Zero Waste Kits<\/a> <\/strong>and asking for items to be put in reusable containers has become a worldwide phenomenon. As dead whales with stomachs full of plastic<\/a> <\/strong>trend on Twitter every few weeks and images of wildlife sporting plastic necklaces<\/strong><\/a> they never asked for flood our newsfeeds, it\u2019s no wonder a global movement of people have begun actively saying no to single-use plastics. <\/p>\n\n

But are supermarkets, coffee shops and restaurants also ready to say no? <\/p>\n\n

With a country-wide week of action, Greenpeace set out to show retailers that the #ReuseRevolution is already underway<\/strong>, their customers are looking for refill and reuse options, and if they don\u2019t respond, they risk getting left behind. During Global Refill Week<\/strong><\/a>, we encouraged everyone to grab their favourite reusable container, head to a coffee shop, grocery store or restaurant and ask to get what they were looking for put in it. Then, post the results on social media (full details on how you can still participate can be found here<\/strong><\/a>). <\/p>\n\n

I hear what you\u2019re thinking – how can me and my container help encourage supermarkets to implement reuse systems rather than offering everything in single-use packaging?!<\/em> <\/strong>Well, let me tell you the story of how Bea Johnson, instigator of the modern zero waste lifestyle movement<\/strong><\/a>, unwittingly sparked a major reusable container program in Canada.<\/p>\n\n

Bea Johnson and her family were visiting Canada for a vacation in 2015. But because there are no vacations from low-waste living, naturally Johnson & fam began looking for all the hot spots where they could fill their containers and cloth bags with all their vacationing desires. Luckily, Johnson had launched a Bulk Finder app<\/strong><\/a> where people can list and search for bulk\/package-free shops from anywhere in the world. Also fortuitously – someone had listed a Bulk Barn to the app close to where they were staying in Gatineau, Quebec.<\/p>\n\n

Johnson had heard rumours of Bulk Barn and its vast variety of goods offered in bulk. She had also heard that it had a policy against reusable containers. In fact, many of her loyal followers had been giving Bulk Barn a hard time about their stance on this, encouraging them to adopt a storewide reusable container program. Jason – nephew to the owner – had been fielding these kinds of complaints<\/strong><\/a> for years and had even tried himself to convince the company to change its mind. But alas, to no avail. <\/p>\n\n

Things changed on this fateful day, however, when Johnson and her family paid a royal visit to Bulk Barn. Johnson, never one to ask permission to fill her containers<\/strong><\/a>, proceeded to fill her cloth bags with goodies and head for the cash. Fully expecting to be given a hard time, she was surprised when her items were scanned through just like everyone else\u2019s<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

She then released this tweet<\/a><\/strong> (read the comments):<\/p>\n\n

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First visit to a @bulkbarnfoods:wow what a selection! Thx to those who shared its location in #zerowastehome<\/a> #bulkapp<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/raAM3dPkO7<\/a><\/p>— Bea Johnson (@zerowastehome) August 11, 2015<\/a><\/blockquote>