What’s nicer than Minnesota nice? Package-free shopping in Minneapolis / St. Paul’s eclectic mix of refill stores.
Nestled amidst the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, the vibrant Twin Cities are helping put sustainability on the map.
From quirky corner shops and trend-setting boutiques to forward-thinking bulk stores and community co-ops, we uncover the best zero waste stores Minneapolis and St. Paul have to offer sustainable shoppers.
Exploring Zero Waste & Bulk Stores In Minneapolis & St. Paul
- Tare Market Jump to store
- The Foundry Home Goods Jump to store
- R Marketplace Jump to store
- Bamboo Switch Jump to store
- Eastside Food Co-op Jump to store
- Wedge Community Co-ops Jump to store
- Evergreen Collective Jump to store
- Mississippi Market Jump to store
- Hampden Park Coop Jump to store
Tare Market
Founded by conservation biologist Amber Haukedahl, Tare Market was the first dedicated zero waste store in Minneapolis.
Launched following a successful crowdfunding campaign, the woman-owned and operated store offers over 700 products and supports women and BIPOC makers.
Tare Market offers a wide range of package-free products, including bulk shelf-stable foods, cleaning products, personal care items and even zero waste dog products, including biodegradable poop bags, dog shampoo bars, and plastic-free dog treats.
Bring your own bags and containers, or take advantage of their jar deposit system.
The Foundry Home Goods
Mill City residents are in for a fun time milling about The Foundry Home Goods’ stock of high-quality, well-designed items for your home.
Many of the items in this Minneapolis zero waste store come from local artists, beekeepers, ceramicists, leather crafters, weavers, and woodworkers. Others are sourced from artisans around the world. From storage baskets and linen pillow covers to dinnerware and wooden utensils, The Foundry Home Goods has a huge selection of beautiful, functional items for every eco home.
We love their selection of wooden cleaning brushes in all shapes and sizes and Japanese Binchotan Charcoal Cotton Gauze Cloths that are naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial.
They also offer eco-friendly toys, furniture, clothing, books, recycled glassware, beeswax candles, andmore.
On Giving Fridays, 5% of total sales are donated to community-nominated causes.
R Marketplace
R Marketplace wants you to remember your 5 Rs of zero waste: refuse, refill, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot.
On a mission to help the local community ditch single-use packaging, it’s one of the best Minneapolis zero waste stores for finding eco-friendly personal care and beauty products like shampoo and conditioner bars, soap bars, lotion bars, and period products. You can also bring your own container for liquid refills of hand soap, laundry detergent, lotions, shampoos, and conditioners.
Household items include eco-friendly beeswax wraps, reusable paper towels, eco laundry detergent sheets, and dryer balls.
A percentage of every sale is donated to one of five non-profits (you get to choose which at the check-out).
Bamboo Switch
Bamboo Switch helps you “make the switch” to a zero waste lifestyle by offering a range of beautiful products made out of—you guessed it, bamboo, and other earth-friendly materials.
The mom-founded, mom-run brand and Minneapolis zero waste store started with bamboo toothbrushes and now offers over 250 plastic-free products for every room of the home. You’ll find bamboo pot scrubbers, utensils, charcuterie boards, sushi sets, and many more sustainably stylish kitchen and dining items.
Plastic-free bathroom essentials include sustainable toothbrushes, hair brushes, detangling combs, loofahs, hemp facial rounds, and shampoo bars.
It’s also one of the best places to pick up gifts for your zero waste loved ones with quirky and fun items like coconut hanging planters, plant stands, and wax melt burners.
Eastside Food Co-op
Community-owned Eastside Food Co-op has been part of the local sustainable shopping scene for decades.
It’s one of the best zero waste grocery stores Minneapolis has to offer locals looking to stock up on fresh, locally-grown, organic foods. You’ll find seasonal fruit and veg, locally produced dairy and meat, seafood, and pantry essentials, including bulk goods. Local specialty products include Minnesota honey from Amnes farm and mushrooms from Minnesota mushroom grower R&R.
The FARE program supports shoppers on a low income with a 20% discount on fresh produce and discounts on a selection of store-cupboard staples. They also support numerous community projects via the Seedlings program.
Wedge Community Co-ops
With two locations across the city, Wedge Community Co-ops has been at the heart of Minneapolis’s local and sustainable food scene for over four decades. They’ve also donated thousands of pounds to local community causes, and The Co-Op Affordability Project (CAP) supports eligible participants with a 10% discount.
As well as a huge selection of bulk foods, you’ll find plenty of fresh organic produce, including fruit, vegetables, dairy, eggs, meat, and seafood. Stock up on snacks, drinks, household, personal care, baby, and pet products, too.
Everything they stock is vetted against their product standards, prioritizing organic, non-GMO, locally sourced, natural foods with no artificial ingredients.
Evergreen Collective
If you’re looking for zero waste stores in St. Paul, Evergreen Collective is well worth a visit. It’s full of low-waste and zero waste products carefully vetted to ensure everything is eco and ethically-minded.
You’ll find refill options for skin care products (including makeup remover, facial moisturizer, shampoo, and body wash) and cleaning essentials (including dish soap, bathroom cleaner, laundry detergent, and dishwasher soap). If you’re just starting your zero waste journey, their Eco Starter Sets will help you gather some of the basics, including a laundry soap bar, three reusable dryer balls, a natural stain remover bar, and a lint remover tool.
They’re also a Terracycle drop off point for harder-to-recycle items, including razors, phone cases, squeeze pouches, and plastic toiletry containers.
Mississippi Market
If you’ve been searching for a “zero waste store near me” and live in St. Paul, Mississippi Market has three to choose from.
They’re another sustainable food old-timer, providing healthy, unprocessed food to the local neighborhood for over four decades, as well as opportunities for people to learn about healthy eating and cooking with free and low-cost cooking classes.
Their bulk section offers hundreds of products, including beans, grains, granola, nuts, oats, pasta, rice, spices, tea, and coffee. You can also refill with bulk liquids such as oils, honey, maple syrup, laundry detergent, soaps, and shampoos.
Don’t forget to check out their wellness section, where you’ll find low waste vitamins, supplements, and natural remedies alongside sustainable beauty and skincare products (many made locally).
Hampden Park Coop
Hampden Park Food Cooperative may be smaller than the other Co-ops on this list, but it’s a zero waste grocery store St. Paul locals can depend on—and not just for their grocery shopping. In addition to their large bulk section, they also have a hot bar serving freshly made soups (with vegan-friendly options available).
Stock up on store cupboard staples, including tea, coffee, herbs, spices, baking supplies, beans, grains, nuts, seeds, and organic snacks. Carving out a niche as one of the best bulk stores St. Paul residents have access to, they also sell harder-to-find specialty items such as chia seeds, bee pollen, and spelt flour.





