Community Corner
Meet Unpacked Living: "It's Like A General Store, But Sustainable"
Unpacked Living is an online and physical Zero Waste Store and Refillery servicing the North Shore area and providing sustainable goods.
This Patch article is sponsored by Unpacked Living.
Local businesses are the heart of our communities. Patch had a chance to talk with Maria Auclair of Unpacked Living.
Patch: Tell us a bit about your business or organization.
Maria Auclair: Unpacked Living is an online and physical Zero Waste Store and Refillery servicing the North Shore area and providing sustainable goods for everyone. Basically a general store where you can find home goods, pet supplies, baby products, beauty, kitchen, bathroom and so much more with the added benefit that everything is plastic-free, low waste and comes from companies that share our values and care deeply for the planet.
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A zero-waste shop helps customers to live a less-waste lifestyle by eliminating packaging and encouraging the use of containers from home to fill and refill with bulk products, natural beauty and cleaning supplies plus much more.
Stop buying so much plastic and start refilling!
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Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?
Auclair: 3 years. Unpacked Living started in 2019 as an online store and in 2020 opened its first brick and mortar in Beverly MA, and in 2022 opened its second location in downtown Danvers.
Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?
Auclair: The fact that we have a floating island of plastic garbage in the pacific ocean an area twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France. Also the endless news about sea life dying with tones of plastic in their stomachs and the fact that the plastic recycling rate in the US just went down from 9 percent to 5 percent. I got started because I until this day have no access to residential recycling so I started educating myself on how recycling works in my town, state and national level only to understand that the only solution is to start reducing the amount of waste in general that I produce.
Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger in five words, what would those words be?
Auclair: Purpose + community driven sustainable business
Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?
Auclair: The biggest challenge is always to explain to people that zero-waste is just a name/keyword and not a literal estatement. Also that eco-friendly does not mean expensive. We are actually pretty affordable in many aspects.
Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?
Auclair: To know that I am doing my part but I am also helping people in their own sustainable journey. I love seeing customers that have been refilling the same bottle for 2 years being happy and feeling accomplished in their own goals. Community is everything to us.
Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?
Auclair: We offer sustainable products that the big box stores do not, most of which directly supports small makers and local businesses. We have curated very carefully the products we offer and our refill section has now over 80 products available and we keep adding new items to cater to everyone. It's like a general store, but sustainable.
Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?
Auclair: Never forget to stop and appreciate how far you've come.
Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?
Auclair: We are getting ready for the Holiday season and happy to be offering so many unique items that would make great stocking stuffers and just overall presents. What better gift than the gift of sustainability!
