Low Waste Directory
Find refill shops, eco food businesses, and lending libraries
Looking for practical ways to reduce waste? This directory highlights businesses and community initiatives that make low-waste living more accessible, from refill stores and reusable food systems to tool libraries and libraries of things.
At A Greener Future, we know that reducing waste starts with better systems. This directory is designed to help people find local options that support reuse, refill, repair, and sharing.
Eco Food & Drink
Businesses helping reduce food-related waste through reusable packaging, return systems, refill-friendly grocery models, and other low-waste approaches.
Sorry I’ve Got Plants
Toronto, ON
Vegan meal kits with premade sauces, online recipes, and a low-waste approach to packaging.
Yumba
Toronto, ON
Prepared meals delivered across the GTA in reusable bags and containers.
Reimagine
London, ON
Plant-based prepared meals and weekly meal boxes in reusable containers.
Friendlier
Guelph, ON
Reusable containers for takeout, prepared food, and grocery programs across Ontario.
Low-Waste Stores
Browse Ontario refill stores, package-free shops, and low-waste retailers offering alternatives to single-use packaging.
Saponetti
Toronto, ON
Refill shop and delivery service for home and personal care products in reusable jars.
360 Eco Market
Oshawa, ON
Refillery and zero-waste shop with all-natural home and personal care products.
Kind Matter Co.
Oakville, Milton & Mississauga, ON
Eco-friendly store with refillable home and body products, pantry items, and sustainable everyday essentials.
Mrs. Greenway
Dundas, Grimsby & Elora, ON
Eco shop with refill products, green household goods, and personal care essentials.
Terra20
Ottawa, ON
Sustainable home and personal care retailer with refill options and ethically sourced low-waste products.
Unwrapped Kawartha
Lindsay, ON
Eco store and refill bar with bulk refills, clean-living essentials, and a mason jar deposit program.
Full Circle Foods
Kitchener, ON
Zero-waste grocery store with returnable jars, bulk foods, and weekly delivery across Waterloo Region and Guelph.
Bare Market
Toronto, ON
Online low-waste shop with refill products, deposit jars, GTA delivery, and shipping across Canada.
Great Lakes Refill Co.
Sarnia, ON
Zero-waste grocery store and refillery with bulk food, household essentials, and personal care products.
The Keep Refillery
Creemore, Meaford & Kingston, ON
Refill shops for home and personal care products from closed-loop Canadian suppliers.
Unboxed Market
Toronto, ON
Low-waste grocery store with package-free produce, bulk goods, and refill options for home and personal care.
NU Grocery
Ottawa, ON
Ontario’s first zero-waste grocery store with bulk, package-free groceries and household essentials.
Lending Libraries
Borrow instead of buy. These lending libraries and libraries of things help communities share tools, equipment, and useful household items.
Ajax: Library of Things
Ajax, ON
Borrow more than books with free access to toys, park passes, pedometers, bike locks, hotspots, and other useful items through Ajax Public Library.
Kawartha Lakes: Library of Things
Kawartha Lakes, ON
Borrow more than books with free access to sports equipment, STEAM kits, passes, and other useful items through Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
Cool Things to Borrow
Waterloo, ON
Borrow more than books with free access to games, hotspots, park passes, nature kits, and other useful items through Waterloo Public Library.
Toronto Tool Library
Toronto, ON
Community tool library with affordable memberships, 7-day borrowing, and tools for DIY, repair, and home projects.
Sun Life Instrument Lending Library
Toronto, Ottawa, & Kitchener, ON
Borrow musical instruments for free through participating public libraries in Toronto, Ottawa, and Kitchener.
South Dundas Lending Library
South Dundas, ON
Free lending library with sports and recreation equipment for residents of South Dundas.
KW Library of Things
Kitchener, ON
Community library of things with nearly 1,000 items to borrow, from tools and kitchen gear to camping and outdoor equipment.
Guelph Tool Library
Guelph, ON
Community tool library with access to 1,500+ tools for DIY, repair, gardening, and creative projects.
Low Waste Shopping Tips
Only buy what you need - excess purchasing can lead to excess waste.
Remember your reusables - don’t forget to bring your reusable bags and containers (cleaned and dry) to avoid unnecessary single-use plastics. Many of the stores in our directory offer deposit programs on refillable containers if you forget to bring your own.
Weigh your containers - when shopping in bulk, don’t forget to weigh your containers before filling them. If you’re not sure how, ask a store employee!
Do what’s best for you - avoid the pressure of feeling like you need to do waste reduction perfectly. Not every “zero waste swap” will work for you, and that’s okay.
Support local small businesses - like the ones in our directory!
Explore our Practical Guides
Food waste costs more than money. Learn simple ways to plan meals, store food properly, use what you have, save money and keep food out of the landfill.
The most sustainable wardrobe may already be in your closet. Learn how to buy less, wear longer, repair, swap and pass clothing on responsibly.
Not sure what to do with old phones, chargers or other electronics? Learn when to repair, sell, donate or recycle them, plus how to handle lithium-ion batteries safely.
The 5 R’s offer a simple framework for reducing everyday waste. This practical guide shares ways to make lower-waste choices, recycle more thoughtfully and keep useful materials out of the garbage.
Suppli
Toronto, ON
Reusable takeout containers for restaurant orders and zero-waste catering.