People looking to reduce their impact on the environment will soon see more plastic-free products in stores.
Recent research by market research companies Future market insights According to a report, from 2018 to 2022, this environmental industry grew by nearly 6%. Its market value at the end of last year was $985 million.
To Marilla Gonzalez, owner of a low-waste shop based in Geneva and Rochester. Marilla’s Mindful Supplythis increased interest is a result of the “silver linings” of the pandemic.
“Even if you didn’t live near a dumpster or a landfill, you were seeing disposable masks all over the ground,” Gonzalez said. snd I think the economic slowdown has caused people to reevaluate their habits a bit. I think that was a factor, but we’ve also seen a lot of extreme weather activity in the last few years. ”
For Gonzalez, who grew up nearby. Seneca Meadows — A large landfill in Waterloo, New York — Being part of the zero waste movement is deeply personal.
“As I grew up, so did landfills. And as part of the health food industry, we’ve seen a lot of protests and advocacy about the landfill situation, which is a complex It’s a problem,” she said. “But it wasn’t complicated for me to say, okay, I can reduce the amount of money I send to this place, and I can reduce what I’m contributing to this place and reduce my dependence on places like this. We thought we could reduce that.”
Market reports predict that the zero-waste market will soar to nearly $2.5 billion within the next 10 years.
“The light bulb is going off, and it’s so beautiful to see,” she said.
