An Interview with The Eco Flamingo
Bethany Barbouti, Managing Director The Eco Flamingo
With Bethany Barbouti, Managing Director
We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Bethany Barbouti, the very industrious co-founder of Chicago’s first zero waste general store! Bethany and other sustainable entrepreneurs are trailblazing in cities across the US, in hopes of changing the way Americans consume basic goods. She’s recently updated their branding and has some other changes to tell us about!
What is your mission, and how do you want to change our consumption culture?
The Eco Flamingo was started to create change. After witnessing the zero-waste movement in Europe and bulk shopping in the Middle East and Asia, I wished I had the option to shop that way at home. I decided to create a store that would provide a more environmentally conscious way of shopping to Chicago. We only have one planet and it’s being filled with trash! We can and must do a better job of taking care of our home. Our mission is to reduce waste and pollution in our community, to help people re-think the way they shop and consume, and to provide a channel for people to make more environmentally responsible decisions when shopping for household essentials.
We live within a culture of consumption that is based on “throw away”, single-use convenience items and packaging. But what happens to these items when they are thrown “away”? Where is “away”? It has become apparent that “away” is into the land and oceans, taking a huge toll on our planet’s ecosystems and allowing toxins to enter our bodies. Cleaning up this mess and changing the way business is done is a massive effort that requires major changes in governmental and corporate policy, but it will take communities working together to influence that change. Zero-waste stores along with other environmentally responsible businesses and organizations are actively working to change the narrative and demonstrate that humans can do better, and that people care deeply enough about their impact on the planet to drastically change their habits.
The Eco Flamingo's New Bulk Food Remodel.jpeg
The Eco Flamingos New Indoor Renovations.jpeg
What exactly is a zero-waste store? How is it different from other stores?
Reducing waste and our overall footprint on the planet is incredibly important, we simply cannot leave a polluted planet full of rubbish for the generations to come. The model of a zero-waste store is based on eliminating waste by refilling containers that already exist, offering goods that are long-lasting, compostable and/or recyclable, package-free, and sustainably produced. Zero-waste stores are different from other stores because:
There are no goods in plastic packaging.
Most consumables are offered in bulk.
You’re encouraged to bring in your own (clean and dry) containers.
Most items are either package free or in compostable or recyclable packaging.
What are The Eco Flamingo’s sustainability practices?
Our sustainable practices:
Prioritizing local makers and suppliers allows us to participate in a circular economic system and reduces our carbon footprint.
Working with circular suppliers (those that take back containers and refill them). This enables us to reduce waste both for customers and behind the scenes.
Carrying goods made of sustainable materials and ingredients.
Ensuring the makers and suppliers we work with source materials and ingredients sustainably.
Demanding the highest standards for our product line ensuring that all materials are sustainable and sustainably sourced, and that all people involved in production are fairly treated and paid.
Providing a drop-off point for compost and a variety of hard to recycle items.
Working with makers and suppliers to help them create circular systems (specifically refill-return programs) for their products.
In 2022, we facilitated the refilling of 33,286 containers and are set to surpass that number in 2023!
What’s next for The Eco Flamingo?
The next step for The Eco Flamingo is to provide a community center for the sustainably-minded. We have expanded our space into the next-door unit and will soon offer pop up markets (focusing on local farmers, makers, and artists) as well as workshops and classes centered around living more sustainably and self-sufficiency.
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The Eco Flamingo is located in Lincoln Square, and can be found on our Local Shops page!
ARTICLE WRITTEN BY
Bethany Barbouti, Managing Director, Co-Founder The Eco Flamingo
