The Journey

The holidays are here, and we all want to gift the people we love something unique and special. Over the years, this might have included shopping for hours at department stores, stocking up on endless amounts of wrapping paper and holiday decorations, and allowing the holiday rush to get the best of us. With markdowns available from nearly every large brand during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s hard to avoid the convenience and affordability.

For many Americans, starting a morning with a cup of hot coffee is non-negotiable. People all over the world love coffee so much that people in the U.S. drink 146 billion cups of coffee each year. Unfortunately, the coffee we get at coffee shops or cafes needs to be put in something and most times it’s a plastic cup. We order our latte, pick up a disposable sleeve, sip for a few minutes, then toss the cup right in the garbage–all in the name of convenience.

It’s almost 2023, and the movement to go green isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Research states that 66% of global consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable goods, and the city of Boston has made enormous strides in offering eco-friendly alternatives to shopping for food, household, and even beauty products. Today, finding local businesses that want to take care of our environment is getting even easier, so here are 10 sustainable businesses that you can support here in Boston!

Back in 2010, the term “zero waste living” splashed onto the scene, largely thanks to Bea Johnson, who is credited with beginning the zero waste movement. Bea has been sharing her journey of avoiding anything that creates waste, in her kitchen and in other aspects of her life – and many people’s zero-waste journeys are inspired by her! 

Over the past few years the saying “living sustainably” has become more popular than ever. But what does having a more sustainable lifestyle really mean? It truly depends who you ask!

The season for pumpkin spice lattes is here, and there’s nothing more “fall” than grabbing a hot cup of coffee (or an iced PSL!) and walking through the streets of Boston as the leaves change. If you know anything about Good Filling, you’ll know that we’re big supporters of the refill revolution – but what does coffee have to do with plastic waste?

Living sustainably isn’t necessarily something that can just happen overnight – of course, some people are able to completely change their daily habits within just a few days, but the ability to stick with that over time can be really difficult. When it comes to making changes in our own lives that will help our planet, we believe the best way to do that is by starting small. It’s easy to think that we’re not having much of an impact when we incorporate one sustainable act into our lives, but that’s just not true – even making a conscious effort to become more sustainable with your morning routine can inspire others to do the same. 

Summer is in full swing, and for anyone who loves a good adventure–long sunny days mean traveling to new places! Traveling hasn’t been easy the past couple of years and with flight prices skyrocketing, there’s an easy way to save yourself some money while helping the planet. Pack light for your next trip and swap your single-use items for more environmentally friendly ones. Ready to cut down your waste and your time spent at airport baggage claim? Here are some of our favorite ways to pack sustainably while traveling this summer.

If you're looking for ways to cut down on waste, there's no better place to start than with your personal care products. From toothpaste tubes to menstrual products—the amount of toiletries used in the United States is astronomical, and the packaging that comes with it is only hurting our environment.

Learn about the impact of single-use plastic water bottles and our favorite refillable and reusable alternatives you can switch to.