The concept of "zero-waste" can be an intimidating one. For Kendra Dean, owner and founder of Ren Market in Duluth, there was a moment that ignited her efforts toward reducing waste in her life. "I was motivated by some of my students," says Dean of a sustainability class that she taught at UMD. "We just grab stuff at the store, we don't think about it, it's what we're used to."
Seeing a need in the area, Dean began taking steps to create Ren Market, a business geared toward reducing waste by offering products in bulk which patrons then use to fill their own containers and bottles. "I was sort of frustrated with the lack of bulk options that we had... so just decided that it was a niche that needed to be filled."
Creating Ren Market had a number of unique hurdles. "Finding our suppliers was a challenge," says Dean. Hurdles also exist for individuals hoping to transition into a zero-waste lifestyle. As someone who has made that transition, Dean has a few thoughts and words of encouragement. "The goal is to reduce waste where you can," says Dean. "Give yourself some patience... it's not all going to happen at once."
More information about Ren Market can be found online.
You can hear Green Visions at 8:20am every Wednesday on Northland Morning.
