The Refillery: Take Action
Written By Lourdes Rodriguez
The usage of single-use plastic has been proven to harm our environment. Thankfully, there are ways to reduce the harm to our ecosystem. Refillery, a Pittsburgh-based retailer specializing in zero-waste products, can help us be eco-conscious. You can shop at their three locations: Downtown, Squirrel Hill, and Oakmont.
The brand has an inspiring mission to save the environment. The founder of Refillery, Larissa Russo, has an equally inspiring story on how she got started with Refillery. “I was searching for a change in my life. I was a corporate engineer for many years. I’m good at creative problem solving and I kept asking myself, what am I doing with my life? I saw videos of sustainability stores throughout different cities.”
Like many novice entrepreneurs, Russo did not have many of the pieces needed for running a business. Despite the fear and hesitation she felt, the end result assured her that she was on the right path. “I didn’t have a website, brand or anything. I had six weeks to show up to my first pop-up market. I had doubts whether people would be drawn to it. We made the most profit that day. It was a confirmation for me.”
Russo’s drive to launch Refillery was derived from her desire to better the planet. She is aware of the severity of climate change. “The climate crisis is very scary and needs action now. Refillery is a piece of action and a person becoming more aware of what’s going on”.
Refillery’s business model gives people the opportunity to not only learn about the destruction of plastic, it also integrate a practice into their daily lives that will benefit the planet. “A single-use product requires a lot of energy. It will sit in the landfill and pollute the environment for hundreds of years. If you’re reusing a bottle, there is no need for a new one. Only 6% of what we send to recycling actually gets recycled. A lot of those products are only partially recyclable.”
Russo’s adoration for the Golden Triangle led her to open a third location downtown. “I used to live downtown and I currently live in the Strip District. Downtown has always been the vibrant heart of our city. So many different people from various backgrounds help keep the city going. You get different life perspectives and that’s important.”
The Downtown Neighbors Alliance motivated Russo to pursue Refillery. “I was doubtful of being chosen for the pop-up program. I had a lot of encouragement from John. It was great having someone instilling that confidence.”
The origin of the Refillery is an inspiration to exercise eco-friendly practices and to achieve your dreams. Don’t waste your time; Take action!
For more information, visit Refillery’s website: https://www.therefillerypgh.com/. Visit their downtown location: 100 7th St, Pittsburgh, PA.
