Oceana’s blog series, Businesses Breaking Up with Plastic, highlights companies that are tackling the plastic pollution crisis by phasing single-use plastics out of their operations or building the infrastructure and market for alternatives. These businesses are proving that solutions to help address the plastic pollution crisis not only exist but work. You can read our first post in the series here.
In this piece, Oceana’s New York Field Representative Gail Tierney sat down with owner and founder of Maison Jar, Larasati Vitoux.
Maison Jar is a low-waste refillery and grocery store located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Keep reading to learn how these two Brooklyn neighbors connect over their shared commitment to phase out single-use plastic packaging.
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Can you tell me a bit more about your business?
I like to say Maison Jar is a one-stop shop for food, personal care, and home essentials, all without unnecessary packaging. We carry a wide variety of products. The store’s main mission is to fight single-use packaging, both at the customer level (we encourage customers to bring their own reusable containers) and in our own operations, where we work to reduce waste wherever possible. Other core values include minimal packaging and circularity, prioritizing organic products, and carrying local products.
What would you say is the biggest challenge in your industry when it comes to reducing single-use plastic?
For me, the biggest challenge is consistently explaining why bulk products are not always less expensive than packaged goods. That’s largely because New York doesn’t yet have an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) — law in effect.
Yes! Oceana is currently working to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act at the state level, which would place the responsibility on corporations to manage their plastic packaging that inevitably becomes waste. It would be one of the strongest bills of its kind in the country, and it will save New York taxpayers money by reducing packaging waste.
You absolutely get it. That’s so great that you’re pushing for its passage this year. At Maison Jar, our prices are often consistent with, or sometimes lower than packaged goods. For example, spices are significantly cheaper when bought in bulk because you’re not paying for the glass container. Right now, taxpayers bear the cost of making sure plastic packaging gets to a landfill. New York has 10 polluting trash incinerators and 25 active landfills, including one taller than the Statue of Liberty. Trucking, burning, and burying this waste is polluting communities. It’s time to shift our focus from waste management to waste reduction. Once an EPR law is in place, better pricing will become available to customers.
A second challenge is that not everything is available in bulk because it’s not shelf stable, which is why we sell some products in cans and glass containers.
What was personally important to you when building your business around reducing single-use plastics and providing an alternative?
I’m originally from France, and I’ve been in the U.S. for 13 years. Before opening Maison Jar, I was working in the food industry for a company that sells botanical extracts. While there, I pursued a certificate in sustainability and agriculture/food systems, which sparked my curiosity about ways to become more sustainable.
I’m not vegan or vegetarian, and I’m not perfect as a climate activist, but it’s always been an area of strong interest to me. During the depths of COVID, I went back to France and fell in love with shopping at refilleries and low-waste grocery stores with family and friends — they’re much more common there. I wanted to shop that exact same way in New York City, but I realized there were few options in the city. Honestly, at first, I was just amazed by the system in France and wondered why we don’t have the same options in the U.S.
What’s been an unexpected benefit of running a business around waste reduction?
One big benefit has been that it’s always been easy to recruit great people at Maison Jar. I have a very strong team and there are consistently so many strong applicants who are excited about our mission. Working in the low-waste sector attracts people who want to do good, and our community is kind, positive, and eager to help.
Last year, you took action with Oceana to promote the federal Farewell to Foam Act, even though you already avoid plastic foam in your day-to-day operations. Why is it important to advocate for policy change?
Policy is important because it allows more businesses to adopt sustainable practices and meet customer demand. I’ve seen firsthand that people want to shop local and embrace reuse systems.
In France, the demand started as a grassroots movement then the supply chain developed, and the government stepped in to make it scalable.
In the U.S., we don’t yet have that infrastructure or closed loop systems yet, but we absolutely can! My business serves the Greenpoint community, but with supportive regulations, more people could have access to bulk and low-waste shopping faster and more easily.
What advice would you give to other businesses that are inspired by what you do?
I speak with a lot of people who are interested in opening a business like mine. My biggest advice is to be a one-stop shop. Convenience is key because low-waste shopping is still a new concept. Customers want to get their groceries without spending too much time, so carrying food, home, and personal care products in one location is critical to success.
I also encourage people to always stay true to their ethos about reducing waste, partnering only with vendors who are fully aligned with their mission. By staying true to your values, you’ll find new ideas and people in the least expected places.
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Oceana and its allies are pleased to support the Congressional Farewell to Foam Act, which would phase out the sale and distribution of polystyrene foam foodware, disposable coolers, and loose-fill packaging (packing peanuts) nationwide. Many states across the country have begun to phase out this problematic plastic, and science shows that these policies protect the environment from plastic foam pollution.
Businesses and consumers need comprehensive policies that would phase out the production and use of unnecessary single-use plastic products and move to non-toxic refill and reuse systems.
Sign Oceana’s petition to help protect our oceans from plastic pollution.
If you’re a business owner interested in advocating for change, Oceana’s National Business Coalition for the Oceans is here to help. Learn more and get involved.
Discover Maison Jar on Instagram @masionjar.nyc or on their website. And stay tuned for their upcoming fourth birthday!
