Nestled between Hurts Donuts and Arts and Letters on South Campbell, the Bulk Soap Refill Station is in the heart of downtown Springfield. There are a wide variety of products available, including laundry and dish detergent, hand soaps, shampoos, lotions, pet supplies and much more.

Plastic-free paradise

The one thing that’s missing? Rows and rows of individual plastic bottles. All of the products are in large, industrial style jugs, which customers use to refill containers that they bring from home.

The owner Anne Dezort, said that the objective of the Bulk Soap Refill Station is to “reduce single-use plastic waste in our landfills and waterways.”

Instead of buying another container of soap every time it runs empty, Springfieldians now have the option to continue reusing the same containers multiple times.

Customers can bring in clean containers from home, purchase some that are available in the store, or grab a bottle from the collection of donated containers left behind by other customers. This concept is extremely effective for reducing plastic waste, and it has another major attraction for its customers, especially college students: it can be cheaper than the more wasteful alternative of purchasing new plastic containers in retail stores.

Saving money and the environment

When asked what the most popular product in her store was, Dezort said, “Probably the Free and Clear laundry soap. It’s about $0.09 an ounce, compared to Tide, which is about $0.15 an ounce.”

While it may not seem like a huge difference, that can really add up. The new Bulk Soap Refill Station is not only an eco-friendly option for Drury students; it offers an affordable new alternative to name brand products.

Another unique aspect of this shop is that most of its merchandise is customizable. In the corner of the store is the oil bar, which has individualized skincare options as well as a selection of essential oils that can be combined with the soaps and lotions. The ability to create custom products and try new combinations in small batches is one of the most distinctive features of this store.

Photo via Lauren Barclay

“You can customize everything. If you want lavender patchouli lotion, you can have lavender patchouli lotion,” said Dezort.

Even though this store has only been open since late July, it has already gathered a loyal client base. If you go in to refill your hand soap, you will likely see several other people filling their wide variety of containers.

This new and locally owned business offers extremely affordable laundry detergent, but it offers much more than that. It is an indication that our community is able and willing to begin transitioning to more sustainable, environmentally conscious behaviors, and away from those that harm our community and ecosystem.

Article by Lauren Barclay.