Where and why we exist (image credit Oriana Wen)
I started Fullfill because I wanted a refill shop in my neighborhood. Our web address, fullfill.cc, blends our name and our location (.cc) into a single phrase. It reflects our commitment to our Columbia City home: to serve our neighbors and to create new opportunities through reuse.
Already our refillery provides customers and manufacturers with a zero-waste distribution option. Customers reuse their containers of choice, and then Fullfill refills bulk containers with manufacturers so that no additional packaging is used from factory to home. Preventing solid waste is just one benefit of a system where distributors like refilleries remove the overhead of packaging, shipping, and retail. For some manufacturers who are burdened by these activities or simply don’t want to do them, this system allows them to focus on what they do best: creating great products.
We’d love to work with more of these manufacturers, especially those who cannot now distribute their products. Let’s take a soapmaker as an example. The technology to make soap has changed little over human history: mix plant oil or animal fat with lye. The PNW has excellent water and agricultural and botanical ingredients. You can make soap anywhere, but selling it is a different job. We want to enable makers to create essential goods from our region’s unique natural resources by providing an easy and low-cost way to get them to market.
While there are many benefits to refilling, it doesn’t make sense for everyone. Some manufacturers may need to package their products to extend shelf life and protect them during shipping. Customers may have specific product needs or need to ship directly to their homes. We respect these personal choices; we only seek to offer more options.
Thus we dedicate ourselves to serving Columbia City and the rest of South Seattle. We seek more regional products that we can collect fresh and distribute to our community. And in doing so, we hope to empower people to create and use unique and sustainable products. Let us know your favorites!
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