Fredericton’s Consciously Clean Refillery Aims To ‘Make Sustainability Approachable And Affordable’
FREDERICTON– For Frederictonians looking to pick up some eco-friendly cleaning products and reduce plastic waste at the same time, Consciously Clean Refillery recently opened its storefront at 414 York St.
Carolyn Gibbons, the owner and founder of Consciously Clean Refillery, started her business over a year ago, on November 15, 2021.
“I look to source [products] from as local and as cleanly made as possible,” said Gibbons. “The whole premise is if it’s good for the people, and it’s good for our planet, then I try and bring it in the store.”
In the beginning, it started as an e-commerce business. For local customers, Gibbons would deliver orders to their doorstep. She ships her products across Canada but Gibbons said “the whole idea behind refilleries is to cater to your local market.”
Gibbons has worked to source products from different brands that cater to bulk refill locations and that also have clean ingredients. The three leading companies she buys products from are all located in Canada.
But this is not a new interest for Gibbons.
“I’ve been very conscious of my waste for a long time. I grew up on a cash crop farm and that was the way of our family,” she said.
As she got older and had a family of her own, Gibbons began looking at the ingredients in her personal care products and cleaning supplies. She did not like the ingredients so she started making her own products.
“That was kind of natural progression to becoming a customer of a refillery when they first started popping up here in Canada,” she said.
When Gibbons moved to Fredericton, she was ready for something different in life and wanted to find a better purpose. After doing research, she realized there was nowhere in Fredericton committed to refillable, clean products.
“My goal was to provide Fredericton a spot to shop sustainably and make sustainability approachable and affordable,” said Gibbons. “And to break down some of the stigmas surrounding organic products, sustainability, eco-friendly. I think it had a bad rap of being too expensive and we’ve really found a way to make it cost-effective to the big box stores.”
While she outsources her products for her store, she continues to make her own products at home for her family.
When she started last November, she was unsure if her business would lead to a storefront location. But she realized a storefront would be good for her type of business.
“There’s more to the refillery than just dropping things off at the door. There’s a very personal aspect to it and when I was working the market, I realized that face-to-face interaction, that’s what people really want here, especially, I think, in Atlantic Canada,” she said.
Before committing to the storefront, Gibbons spent the summer selling at The Recap Night Market in downtown Fredericton. Her business was well-received and the experience gave her the push to move forward with owning a location of her own.
At Consciously Clean Refillery, customers can find cleaning supplies, like all-purpose cleaners, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, cleaning vinegar, and DIY cleaning ingredients, such as citric acid, baking soda, and bleaching agents.
The location has a variety of refillable, clean-ingredient beauty products as well, like shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo, and face masks.
The process at the refillery is not self-serve. Gibbons said she has staff that will take customers “along the refill journey.” The location encourages bringing reusable bottles or containers from home but they do have some for purchase if necessary. The payment is charged in fluid ounces for the weight of the product.
The location on York Street will have an area dedicated to other consigners and vendors. Gibbons said the space is larger than others she was looking at, so with the space, she thought it would be an opportunity to host workshops, and after-hour events, and for creators to sell their handmade items in a store atmosphere.
“I hope we’re able to grow a real sense of community here and that we’re all working towards the same goal of a cleaner, more sustainable planet,” said Gibbons.
Jessica Saulnier is an intern for Huddle. Send her feedback or tips: [email protected].