If you’re starting to worry about the level of disposable products your household is using, you’re not alone. Zero waste is a burgeoning movement in Northern Virginia. Shops and organizations are sprouting up to help you reduce your carbon footprint. Here’s a guide to zero waste stores, places to get upcycle/recycle/compost your trash to help you in your quest to save the environment. Because even one plastic bag saved is a success.

Zero Waste Stores in Northern Virginia

Mason & Greens
Alexandria

The handsome wood-accented store in Old Town Alexandria, the first zero waste store in the area, encourages customers to bring their own bags and bring their own jars to buy bulk and plastic-free goods. Shop for reusable sustainable goods to replace your single-use plastic. Particularly of interest are the to-go wares - tiffins, straws, cutlery all meant to cut takeout waste.

Trace Zero Waste
Vienna, Virginia

Inspired by her life and travels, former NBC News reporter sought to create a store to do her part to reduce plastic waste. Trace features bulk foods, spices, and beauty and cleaning product refill stations. Follow Trace on Instagram to see pop-ups at local markets.

Zero Waste Grocery Stores in Northern Virginia

Mom’s Organic Market
Alexandria, Arlington, Herndon, Merrifield, Woodbridge

Mom’s provides all sorts of eco-friendly ways to recycle products as varied as shoes, cork, batteries, Christmas lights, and compost. On a recent shopping trip, I saw that MOM’s commemorated the shelf where it used to sell bottled water. This store is truly committed to making the world a better place and is a great place to spend your money.

Whole Foods
Multiple Locations

Everyone knows the store called “Whole Paycheck.” With Jeff Bezos helming the new store, prices have gone down, but the store still contributes to making organic food and a sustainable life commonplace.

Sprouts Farmers Market
Herndon

Sprouts is like a farmers’ market in a store. Clean, healthy eating at an affordable price open at convenient hours. Sprouts won’t try to sell you soda, candy, or unhealthy snacks. This is a great place if you want to avoid the typical bad distractions in traditional supermarkets.

Farmers’ Markets in Virginia

For easy shopping without much plastic waste, you can’t get better than farmers’ markets. Here are some local ones that let you meet your farmers and possibly drop off your compost.

Zero Waste Beauty in Northern Virginia

Truly Life
Alexandria

This tiny beauty store sells a variety of beauty and cleaning products without any packaging. For beauty products, find soap, clay masks, deodorant, shaving supplies, and a soap-infused loofah. It’s also a great way to buy zero waste dish detergent and a zero waste fire starter. It’s a great place for gifts for babies and pets with sensitive skin. Additionally, you can buy a soap-making course or a gardening course for four if you want to embark on your own lather adventures.

Lush
Arlington

This store with outlets in Pentagon City Mall and Tyson’s Corner Centre sells plastic-free soap, bath products, shaving creams, perfume, mouthwash, and hair dyes and other hair care.

Sustainable Fashion in Northern Virginia

Threadleaf
Alexandria

This sustainable and ethical independent boutique embodies its tagline “Good. Clean. Fashion." Though educated at the Fashion Institute of Technology, the founder ventured into law, where she worked at the DOJ and the Obama White House, before coming back to her stylish roots. The store tries to source fair trade labels and stocks up to a size 18. I’m particularly enamored with this garden bouquet tote.

Mimi Miller
Falls Church (Online)

The motto of this sustainable store is “Ethical Production + Quality Fit + Excellent Textiles = Effortless & Modern Pieces” which is a great sentiment. Beautiful timeless pieces for the modern woman.

ReCurate
Based in Arlington (Online)

ReCurate is like “certified preowned” for used clothes. Retailers can set up a platform for customers to sell clothes from their purchase history. It’s a great way to fight fast fashion and keep threads out of the landfill.

Zero Waste Organizations in Northern Virginia

Environmental Organizations in Northern Virginia

There are plenty of environmentally conscious groups lobbying the government and businesses to provide eco-friendly options.

FreeCycle

Most towns in Virginia have their own FreeCycle networks where users can give away or receive stuff for free.

Conclusion - Zero Waste Lifestyle in Northern Virginia

You can be a part of the solution or you can be a part of the problem. Fortunately, there are plenty of activists and groups trying to make a dent against climate change in the area. Feel free to dip your toe in or go full anti-landfill-crusader. We are all in this together and one fewer piece of plastic is something to be celebrated.