The FullFillery zero-waste shop has received a top editor’s pick in this year’s Best of Bethesda issue.
The store opened in 2019 in Takoma Park as the area’s first zero-waste shop and was named the “Best Place to Get Your Green On” by the editors at Bethesda Magazine:
The zero-waste lifestyle seen on Pinterest can be your reality with help from FullFillery, a downtown Takoma Park shop committed to stocking its shelves with products that are made from reusable materials, with nontoxic ingredients and minimal packaging. The owners aim to source products that are ethically and locally made to carry in their shop, which opened in 2021 on the second floor of a two-story building on Carroll Avenue above Olive Lounge & Grill. As you walk up the stairway to the zero-waste heaven, the scents of lemon, lavender, peppermint and eucalyptus waft through the air. Employees say the store always has the lingering scent of whatever soap, lotion or detergent the FullFillery’s in-house chemist is concocting. The shop also features many zero-waste solutions that go far beyond metal straws and reusable water bottles—such as cloth menstrual pads and diapers, paper-free “paper” towels, biodegradable scrub brushes and beauty products in compostable packaging. Castile soap, shampoo, hair care products and home laundry powder are all sold in bulk.
In 2020, the shop closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the owners transitioning to an online store with lockboxes, curbside pickup, bike deliveries, and pop-up appearances outside the Takoma Park Farmers Market. In 2021, FullFillery reopened its physical store above the former location of Mark’s Kitchen, adjacent to Olive Lounge.
Mark’s Kitchen closed last year, with the space set to become the permanent location for the Vietnamese food truck Muối Tiêu.
According to Main Street Takoma, FullFillery is a zero-waste store that offers organic soaps, detergents, and personal care items with refillable or compostable packaging that is always free of plastic. The store aims to lead the reduction of single-use plastics in the D.C. metro area for household and personal care products. FullFillery prioritizes local sourcing to support the economy and ensure a low carbon footprint.
Many of its products, such as concentrated liquid dish soap, shampoo bars, and body soaps, are made within 20 miles of Takoma Park. Additionally, the products are crafted with sustainable and fair trade practices in mind.
The store is owned by climate activists who want to make it easier for people to live with zero waste. Rini Saha, a former high school teacher and the founder of the nonprofit GreenThinker DC, teaches people about living a zero-waste lifestyle. Susan Cho is an active community member who promotes sustainable living serves on the board of the TPSS Co-op, and co-founded Maitri House. Emoke Gaidosh, the founder of Costa Cosmetics, uses her background as a chemist to make soaps and detergents.
FullFillery is located on the second floor at 7006 Carroll Ave. in Takoma Park. The store is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
FullFillery Graphic