Wonderfill Refillery, Cookeville, Tennessee's zero-waste refill store

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Cora Hageman, Founder of Wonderfill Refillery in Cookeville, Tennessee, who discusses her background in environmental conservation and transition to entrepreneurship through her sustainable, refillery business. Wonderfill Refillery operates as a bulk refill shop offering eco-friendly household products, emphasizing sustainability through closed-loop systems and clean ingredients while providing customers with alternatives to single-use packaging. Customers bring containers or select one from the business, refill what they need, and check out to cut down on single-use packaging. The business offers everyday refillable essentials including cleaners, bath and body products, sustainable home goods, and Tennessee-made items. Wonderfill Refillery maintains an online presence and offers a number of other items through Shopify Collective. Cora and her business focus on community education about sustainable living while maintaining accessibility and approachability in how it can be easily integrated into everyday life.

Environmental Entrepreneurship: Cora's Journey

Cora Hageman, Founder of Wonderfill Refillery, highlights her business that combines her background in environmental conservation with her entrepreneurial spirit. Cora shares her childhood experiences in a small town in Tennessee, where she was raised with a strong connection to nature and a focus on sustainable living. She discusses her transition from a career in wildlife and fisheries conservation to starting her own business, which she always envisioned doing. Cora's passion for the environment and her desire to make a positive impact through her business are evident as she describes her journey and the inspiration behind Wonderfill Refillery.

Eco-Friendly Bulk Refill Shop

Wonderfill Refillery, the seventh refillery in Tennessee, offers a retail shop where customers can buy bulk household goods by the ounce, bringing their own containers or selecting from the store's upcycled options. The business emphasizes sustainability by using closed-loop systems for product shipping, prioritizing clean ingredients, and minimizing plastic use. With about 50 refill products, including shampoos, soaps, and local farm goods, Wonderfill Refillery aims to provide eco-friendly alternatives for everyday essentials, encouraging customers to reduce single-use packaging.

Sustainable Shopify Collective Website

Cora shares how Wonderfill Refillery's website uses Shopify Collective, a sustainable alternative to traditional drop shipping, partnering with recognized brands while ensuring eco-friendly shipping practices. Cora focuses on listing and promoting a variety of sustainable products, with plans to list 1,300 more items. The website serves as a storefront to guide customers to these brands, while the local goods are handled directly by Wonderfill Refillery.

Refillery Education and Sustainability Impact

Cora discusses the educational impact of refillery businesses, highlighting how they help customers realize the importance of sustainable living by showing alternatives to single-use plastics. She emphasizes that their approach of kindness and historical context helps make sustainability accessible and non-intimidating, comparing refillery practices to traditional general stores. Cora explains that many people are unaware of the environmental impact of their consumption habits and appreciate the opportunity to learn about sustainable options and how easy they can be integrated into everyday life.

Wonderfill Refillery Plans for the Future

Cora expresses her vision for expanding the concept to other small towns across the United States, focusing on sustainability and community building. She provides details about the business's online presence, including the website and social media handles, and mentions upcoming exterior repairs to the building, which will include a new mural.

Visit https://wonderfillrefillery.com to learn more about Wonderfill Refillery.