The reason why I start this campaign is that I wish to open a zero waste store in Maastricht, the Netherlands. A zero waste store is a place, where you can bring your own packaging and refill it with products you need in the quantities you desire. 

The main mission of this concept is simple, yet highly powerful - to reduce waste. We live in times when waste pollution is highly problematic. Especially the plastic pollution. Nowadays, the problem is so severe that plastic has polluted water, air, and the Earth. Did you know only 9% of all plastic ever produced gets recycled? The rest ends up on the oceans, landfills, or burned (National Geographic, 2018). The mass production of plastic has such a large impact on our lives and many people do not even realize it. Looking at the mass production, our current system is not ready for such a large amount of plastic being produced that is why there are leakages in our system and it ends up in places it should never end up (National Geographic, 2018). 

The store I wish to open is called Nature's Pantry and its mission is to encourage people to Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Rot, and Recycle. Hence, the mission statement of Nature’s Pantry is to inspire, educate, and encourage people to follow the Zero Waste Movement, thus members can decrease their waste impact on the Earth. 

Zero waste is not a lifestyle, it should not be considered as such. Zero waste is a mindset, a part of the natural evolution. It should not be something we do because we feel good about it. It is something that should be followed because we feel it is a natural part of our lives and it is the most logical solution. 

The products are going to be the following:
Beauty products in reusable packaging - cremes, body lotions, shampoo bars, conditioner bars, oils
Cleaning products - detergents, cleaners, washing liquids
Household items - items that help to swap from single-use items to items that can be reused - such as bamboo kitchen towels (instead of paper towels), beeswax wraps (instead of aluminum foil) and similar

The products I want to offer come from abroad and these are highly unique, hand made, ecological and healthy for the skin. Hence, these products are not yet known in the Netherlands but I frequently order myself as a consumer from this supplier and I had never used anything better. I am very picky when it comes to products that I put on my body or I clean my house with because I want to do it as natural as possible and without chemicals and different harmful ingredients.

There is one specific supplier I will work with - I already am in touch with them and will go this summer to have a look into their factory - this supplier has a beautiful story behind - they create hand made natural bar soaps from from unique natural ingredients that are not easily found in commercial products. The products are made by women who suffered in their life don't have money or don't have job or family. These women were beaten and misused. This company helps them in a way that they offer them work and it is a non-profit firm so they invest everything back in the firm and in these women. They are also highly flexible and will offer the products without packaging.

Some products will be offered in bulk in refill stations and some will be packaged in a special jar that can be returned to me and I will return it to my supplier who reuses these jars.

These are the first types of products the range will increase as the business grows. I would like to add pet products - pet food in bulk; but also zero waste baby products. So there is still a lot to come.
I made a decision to provide some products online and my first stop will be to sell everything at a market few times a week. I will offer people to order online and pick up at the market where I will have my stand (I choose for this option first because it is very cheap), later once I earn more money I want to rent a shop where I will have a fixed refill station - or I will have a shop-in-a-shop maybe at Gedeelde Weelde (have contacted them for cooperation already).

Also, I want to partner up with some shops who will buy the refill stations from me and install them in their stores. I want to do this a little bit later.

In later stages I will add a local bicycle delivery within Maastricht, which is also a great thing, so people don't need to come pick up anything.

When it comes to sending the products ordered online I will gather boxes from companies that do not need them anymore and will use only material that is biodegradable within the boxes.

The money I ask to receive from the crowdfunding is actually money used for buying my stock and buying all the necessary items I need for my stand and a small refill station at the market.

The people that donate will all receive a discount on their first purchase as soon as the shop is setup and they can use it for an online order or at the market. The delivery can be a bit of a hassle because of the emissions but I want to partner up with a delivery firm that uses only electrical cars - at least I want to try to do it.

I would like to ask all of you for help. I am a starting entrepreneur who is in need of funding to be able to bring this concept to Maastricht. Please help us change the local community to contribute to a better and cleaner world! 

Thank you very much for all of your help we are working on providing you with the best possible services and products. 

If you still have any questions about anything please let me know at: [email protected]

Heartful thanks! 

Veronika Veghova 

Founder of Nature's Pantry