Reduce & Reuse Refillery | Monica Brutto | The Wright State Guardian
From ethically sourced goods to low-waste and refillable products, the Reduce & Reuse Refillery provides sustainable resources for the Dayton community.
How it works
The Reduce & Reuse Refillery offers ethically sourced and low waste household, toiletry, body and beauty supplies.
For refillable items, customers can bring in personal containers or purchase one at the store. The refillery also offers free delivery options for some orders in Montgomery and Miami counties.
About the owner and business
Before opening the refillery, owner Megan Hudson worked as a graphic designer. After a majority of her former company was furloughed, Hudson decided to open the refillery.
Hudson has always been passionate about the environment and using ethically sourced and low-waste products; however, Hudson realized that there was never a store in the area for this.
When Hudson first started at the end of 2020, the business was operating out of a pop-up van. This year, Hudson opened up a brick and mortar shop that is a shared space with Grace Lane Boutique, an ethically sourced clothing brand.
To Hudson, the most rewarding part of the business is the customers.
“Being able to meet everyone that is so into it. I didn’t realize, like, how many people were as excited about low-waste as I am. Also, getting people introduced to it,” Hudson said.
One refillery employee, E.V. Rose, echoed these sentiments.
Sustainability as a college student
According to Rose, people can get overwhelmed by buying an abundance of products at once. Rose recommends that students start slowly and use the resources currently available rather than getting rid of unused products, as this also contributes to waste.
“I love that we are bringing sustainability to Dayton. The collaboration, the heart, the passion,” Rose said.
According to Hudson and Rose, some convenient low-waste options for college students could be laundry strips, toilet bombs, dryer balls, reusable paper towels, tooth tabs, shampoo and conditioner bars and much more.
“Even if you don’t feel like you are making a difference, there is kind of like a domino effect on how it can help and through influence. Influencing other people, as well as putting your money towards something that can create a change,” Hudson said.
The shop
Reduce & Reuse Refillery is located at 133 East Fourth Street under the Saint Clair Lofts in Dayton and is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The pop-up van is located at Second Street Market in Dayton every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and most Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hudson mentioned that a Reduce & Reuse Refillery will be opening in Oakwood with Maraluna, a fair trade shop that offers sustainable home and self products, in November.
