11 Zero Waste Stores in Minneapolis & St. Paul For Twin City Sustainability
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.
The Full List of Zero Waste & Bulk Stores in Minneapolis & St. Paul
Zero Waste Stores Minneapolis
Zero Waste Stores St. Paul
Zero Waste & Bulk Stores Minneapolis
1. Tare Market
About 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.
What You Can Find
Tare Market offers a wide range of package-free products, including bulk shelf-stable foods, cleaning products, and personal care items.
You’ll also find zero waste products for your furry friend, 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.
2. The Foundry Home Goods
About 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.
They further support their community with Giving Fridays, when 5% of total sales are donated to community-nominated causes.
What You Can Find
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.
Can cleaning supplies be beautiful?
Absolutely! You’ll find 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, and much more.
Location: St. Anthony Main
3. R Marketplace
About 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 essentials.
A percentage of every sale is donated to one of five non-profits (you get to choose which at the check-out).
What You Can Find
You’ll find zero waste 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.
Location: Anoka
4. Bamboo Switch
About 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.
What You Can Find
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.
Location: White Bear Lake
5. Eastside Food Co-op
About 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.
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.
What You Can Find
This large store is a one-stop shop for all of your grocery, toiletry, cleaning, and laundry needs.
Food-wise, 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.
Location: Northeast
6. Fresh Thyme Market
About Fresh Thyme
If you’re searching for bulk food stores in Minneapolis and live near the university, you’re in luck.
Fresh Thyme Market offers a huge range of fresh produce, grocery, and wellness products, all sourced locally whenever possible.
The store supports local food banks and donates to Feeding America.
What You Can Find
Skip the plastic packaging by stocking up on healthy store cupboard staples from their bulk refill station.
You’ll also find a large fresh produce section, frozen items (including plenty of plant-based products), snacks, drinks, and a deli section.
Shop online for delivery or pick-up, or visit the store in person.
Location: University Area
7. Wedge Community Co-ops
About 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.
Everything they stock is vetted against their product standards, prioritizing organic, non-GMO, locally sourced, natural foods with no artificial ingredients.
They’ve donated thousands of pounds to local community causes, and The Co-Op Affordability Project (CAP) supports eligible participants with a 10% discount.
What You Can Find
Head down to this community-owned zero waste store in Minneapolis for all of your store cupboard staples.
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.
Location: Linden Hills | Lyndale
8. Seward Community Co-op
About Seward Community Co-op
One of the best bulk grocery stores in Minneapolis, the Seward Community Co-op helps you sustainably stock your cupboard with over 350 bulk items.
With 23,000 member-owner households, Seaward is another community-owned business providing healthy food while doing a heap of social good via community grants, local event sponsorship, and charity donations.
You can help by rounding up your bill at the check-out. The extra proceeds are donated to a different non-profit each month.
What You Can Find
Bulk items include cereal, granola, nuts, eco-friendly seeds, grains, beans, dried fruit, rice, flour, pasta, sugar, spices, herbs, coffee and tea.
You’ll also find fresh local produce, cheese, meat, seafood, grocery, bakery and deli items, wellness products, and more.
Shop in-store or order online for curbside collection.
Best Zero Waste Stores St. Paul
9. Evergreen Collective
About 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.
They’re also a Terracycle drop off point for harder-to-recycle items, including razors, phone cases, squeeze pouches, and plastic toiletry containers.
What You Can Find
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.
The Eco Laundry Starter Set contains a laundry soap bar, three reusable dryer balls, a natural stain remover bar, and a lint remover tool.
Location: Summit Hill
10. Mississippi Market
About 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.
Mississippi Market also provides opportunities for people to learn about healthy eating and cooking with free and low-cost cooking classes.
What You Can Find
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).
Ask their knowledgeable staff if you need advice about anything.
Location: West Seventh – Fort Road | Cathedral Hill | Dayton’s Bluff
11. Hampden Park Coop
About 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).
What You Can Find
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.
Location: Raymond Ave
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Final Thoughts on Zero Waste Stores In Minneapolis & St. Paul
The Twin Cities aren’t just home to lakes, Loons, and a fierce love for Prince; they also offer some of the best zero waste stores for plastic-free shopping.
While you’re stocking up your store cupboards, don’t forget to check out Minneapolis / St. Paul thrift stores for some sustainable second hand steals.
For those looking beyond the Mississippi for zero waste treasures, there are plenty of zero waste online stores and bulk online stores to peruse at your leisure.
Know someone living in the Land Of Many Lakes hoping to move toward using not-so-many single-use containers?
Send them this list and help them responsibly refill with the best zero waste stores in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
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