Sustainable Small Businesses to Know About in the Tri-Cities
This month we are sharing our love for small businesses with you. We’ve talked about some of the practical reasons to support small businesses and how big a part they play in our communities.
[Related post: 6 Reasons Why to Support Small and Local Businesses]
With the Christmas season upon us, we know many people will be out shopping for gifts and experiences. To help give you some sustainable gift ideas and some small business options to shop at, we wanted to highlight some small businesses in our communities. Each of these businesses are focusing on sustainability and making eco-conscious decisions in their own ways.
Ways to Support Small Businesses
In addition to shopping with them, there are a number of ways to support small businesses.
- Follow them on social media
- Like, share, and/or comment on their social posts
- Leave a business or product review
- Refer your friends to businesses you think they’d like
Sustainable Small Businesses in the Tri-Cities (Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, and Port Moody)
Here are some businesses in the Tri-Cities that we think are pretty awesome.
Alisa Yao, Eco Product Designer
Located in: Coquitlam, BC
Shop here: Alisa Yao, Custom Handmade Products
Follow on Instagram: @aymyao
What this business is all about:
This is a true and transparent zero waste business with a goal to divert textile waste from the landfill. Alisa views the textile waste as a resource, and uses it to create sustainable alternatives to existing products on the market. She’s doing her part to ”close the loop” in the current system that focuses on cradle-to-grave design. One exciting product, for example, are Alisa’s Eco Yoga Bolsters, which each divert 5+ lbs of fabric scraps from the landfill. Check them out here on her Instagram.
I view the waste as a resource, and use it to create sustainable alternatives to existing products on the market.
Alisa Yao
Eco Calypte
Located in: Coquitlam, BC
Find out more here: www.EcoCalypte.ca
Follow on Instagram: @ecocalypte
What this business is all about:
Eco Calypte is a Coquitlam-based refillery located within Rosemarie’s Treasures. They carry eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products, all refillable in glass mason jars to reduce single-use plastics. The products carried at Eco Calypte were chosen because the owners use and love them in their own household. And an added bonus is that most of the products are from BC, which helps support even more local small businesses!
Their delivery areas include Burnaby and the Tri-cities (Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam).
Fulfill Shoppe
Located in: Port Coquitlam, BC
Shop here: https://www.fulfillshoppe.com/
Follow on Instagram: @fulfillshoppe
What this business is all about:
If you follow us on Instagram, you’ve probably seen many stories about my Fulfill Shoppe orders. I’m a huge fan, not only of their service, but also of the ladies behind this business!
Fulfill Shoppe is an online zero-waste grocery store that makes going plastic free easy! Fulfill Shoppe was created by two sisters in the Tri-Cities who had a desire to minimize waste. They have a wide range of bulk grocery items, as well as cleaning, beauty, and other home essential products. Most items are delivered in jars that are returned on your next order.
Their delivery areas (that they get to in an electric vehicle) include: the Tri-Cities (Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody including Belcarra and Anmore), Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Burnaby, North Vancouver & West Vancouver.
Nature Derived
Located in: Port Moody, BC
Find the website here: https://naturederivedorganics.com/
Follow on Instagram: @naturederived
What this business is all about:
Nature Derived creates organic skincare products in small batches, choosing ingredients that you can recognize and trust. Pauline, the creator and maker behind Nature Derived, started creating products after learning how damaging the ingredients were in her store-bought products. One of the benefits to her natural products is they can each be used in a number of ways.
I’ve talked about my love of Nature Derived’s 3-in-1 Bar (Shampoo, Soap, Shave Cream) in our Plastic Free Bathroom post during Plastic Free July. I had hesitantly purchased it to see what all the shampoo bar fuss was about and I was an instant convert! Nature Derived’s 3-in-1 bar is the product that had me ditching liquid shampoo! This is one of the products that can be bought through Fulfill Shoppe’s online grocery store.
Nature Derived 3-in-1 Bar 
Pep Soap and Soap Saver
Pep Soap
Located in: Port Moody, BC
Shop here: https://pepsoap.com/
Follow on Instagram: @pepsoap
What this business is all about:
Pep Soap sells soap, but not just any soap–it is natural handmade soap with simple ingredients, no synthetic fragrances, colouring agents, or palm oil. In fact, you can see a fully transparent ingredient list right on their website. Their soaps have minimal packaging that is plastic free and their environmental focus doesn’t stop there. Natalie, Pep Soap’s creator, pays attention to who she is sourcing her ingredients from in order to work with like-minded people.
In true B.C. fashion, Krista and I love the Forest and Rain soaps from Pep Soap. They smell absolutely divine! While using my Rain soap in the shower, the eucalyptus and fir smell makes me feel like I’m having a spa day and it brings me joy every time. (Talk about the perfect stocking stuffer!)
Reuse Bags
Located in: Port Moody, BC
Shop here: https://www.reusebags.net/
Follow on Instagram: @reuse.bags
What this business is all about:
Reuse Bags provides you with an alternative to single-use plastic bags. Reuse Bags creates mesh produce bags and also natural cotton bags for bulk & dried foods that help reduce our reliance on those single use plastic bags at the grocery store.
A low-waste mindset runs in Marcela’s (Reuse Bags founder) family as she and her mom share similar values and even started a low-waste children’s toy company together. Reuse Bags are made by a team of sisters in Mexico. You can even get to know them a bit more on the Reuse Bags About Page!
RVN Wellness
Located in: Port Moody, BC
Find out more here: https://rvnwellness.com/
Follow on Instagram: @rvnwellness
What this business is all about:
If you have a chance to talk to Dawn about her studio, the first thing you will likely notice is her passion–and it’s infectious and inspiring! RVN Wellness is a yoga, counselling, and wellness space built on the principle of ahimsa, non-harming, which applies to the relationship to the outside world as well as within a person.
This business is vegan owned and eco-conscious, which means that every product in the retail store is vegan and eco-conscious, supporting Canadian small businesses who are also committed to our planet. The studio itself strives to be as low waste as possible using eco-conscious cleaners, no paper towels (they use cloths instead) in the washroom while upholding the highest standard of cleanliness.
This new business opened less than a month ago and has plans to expand to offer community events and workshops. The goal is to bring community together on topics of sustainability, zero waste hacks, and other wellness related topics.
Tradle
Located in: Tri-Cities, BC
Find out more here: https://tradle.ca/
Follow on Instagram: @tradle.community
What this business is all about:
Tradle is a children’s clothing subscription company that was founded by a group of friends who are committed to sustainability. The great thing about renting clothing through a subscription is that the clothing is reused when kids outgrow them and are kept out of the landfill. Tradle also focuses on supporting local brands with natural, organic materials whenever possible.
Western Sky Books
Located in: Port Coquitlam, BC
Find out more here: https://www.westernskybooks.com/
Follow on Instagram: @westernskybooks
What this business is all about:
I love used book stores and Western Sky Books is a jewel! It’s everything you could want in a used bookstore–loads of selection, really friendly and helpful staff, the option to bring in books for credit (they’ll even pick them up from you!). Not only all of that, but Western Sky Books also supports local authors and has a selection of new books at their store.
One unique feature with Western Sky Books is that you can shop their used books online. Just search their website, make your purchase, and they will let you know when your order is ready to pick up in store.
One of my favourite things growing up was having a book wish list and searching the used books stores for treasures. I haven’t been able to make the transition to e-books as holding a physical book brings me joy, so used book stores are a great way to keep books within my budget and is a more sustainable option. It’s also a great way to support small, local shops!
We’d love to hear where you love to shop!
What are your favourite sustainable small businesses in the Tri-Cities?
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