Harlowe Green bringing sustainable living products to downtown Kingston
A venture that began from the mudroom-sized home refillery during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, Harlowe Green has grown organically due to local communities supporting the venture, and small businesses promoting it and partnering with it. It is a sustainable living venture along with a small shop supporting sustainable practices and refillery. And the company’s newest location will be at 90 Brock Street in downtown Kingston.
“The significance of our shop is the change that the pandemic and current climate and environmental crisis has inspired in consumers,” said Ange Defosse, Owner of Harlowe Green
The idea of a refillery is to reduce single-use packaging. Customers can bring their container or purchase a dispenser or container to fill and refill again. The refillery selection at Harlowe Green includes personal goods like deodorant, shower products, etc., all of which are made in Canada and biodegradable.
This year, in particular, the organization has increased its product offerings from local Indigenous sources. Furthermore, it also promotes and provides local makers, prioritizing female-owned ventures. The pricing of sustainable products at Harlowe Green depends on how it is packaged. Customers can save the waste and some of the cost by shopping more consciously.
The organization is also a member of One Percent for the Planet, sponsor and donor of Terracycle boxes, collector for the local chapter of Earthub, and a member of Sustainable Kingston. Another essential component of the offerings at Harlowe Green is education and awareness. Every Friday for the last year, they have published a “sustainable living story” on their blog and made a volunteer webinar for Sustainable Kingston on Youtube.
“Harlowe Green and Earthub share a passion for great eco-friendly, zero-waste products. We are thrilled that Kingstonians will have even more access to these options. We are grateful that Ange is willing to allow Earthub to be a part of her new space,” said Rebecca Hannaford, District Lead for Earthub here in Kingston.
Hannaford also explained how adding a new location would help Earthub and Kingston community for interested potential customers. The space will be another drop-off location for Earthub partners and products.
“We receive a lot of inquiries from downtown residents without transportation. This will give those people a closer, more convenient drop-off location,” Hannaford added.
The objective of the organization in the community is to support the decrease in single-use plastic packaging. The organization has also partnered with many local organizations and small businesses like Earthub and Sustainable Kingston.
The home and personal products at the shop are also plastic-free, package-free, compostable, and biodegradable. Items include wool dryer balls, stainless steel safety razors and supplies, plant fiber options for dish sponges and brushes, toxin-free nail polishes and facial care products, wooden brushes and combs, reusable cloth items like facial rounds and non-paper towels, package-free bar soaps, package free bath bombs, plastic-free gum, and lip balms, and low waste makeup are also part of the shop.
The shop downtown will open in the first week of December.
“We wish to thank the Kingston community and small businesses that have supported the growth of this small shop to where it is today. We could not have achieved this without the amazing local support,” said Defosse
Harlowe Green delivers across Kingston, throughout Quinte, and north to the Mazinaw Lake area, where their first home-based business is set up in Harlowe.