Sustainability Achievements + Goals

As we move forward in our efforts to live more sustainably and help inspire others to do the same, we feel it’s important to acknowledge how far we have come and the ways we are working towards living in a more circular economy and decreasing our footprint. Plus, a look at what we’re working towards this year ahead in 2021.

HOW FAR WE’VE COME

Washers weigh clothes prior to filling with water so no water is wasted. They also spin at such a high speed that the clothes need very little time to dry in the dryers.

Additional water savings with high-efficiency toilet (dual flush option) and aerators on sink faucets.

Reusable hand towels are available in the bathroom instead of single use paper towels.

Free water refill stations are available for customers and reusable cups are available.

Electricity is pulled from clean energy sources (wind and solar) through Green Mountain Energy and distributed by National Grid.
Our space uses an air-source heating & cooling heat pump system which is run with electricity instead of a fuel source. Air-source heat pumps are highly efficient, improve air-quality through air filtration & require less energy to operate so help save money on electricity.

We perform the proper maintenance to ensure all equipment is functioning appropriately and to extend the life of the machine - cleaning filters and parts of all laundry machines, air filters on heating & cooling system, etc.
Lighting in the Laundry Room is on a timer so that they automatically turn off when no movement is sensed. All interior + exterior lights are LED.

Majority of furniture / lighting purchased through ReStore (used household items that raise money for local Habitat for Humanity), Hudson’s Antique Warehouse, and Emeco (which uses recycled materials to produce new furniture).

We do not provide fabric softener or dryer sheets in our laundromat for a number of reasons - one of the main ones being the toxic chemicals found in both products. Learn more here. We do have substitutes available in our Shop including Dryer Balls, Essential Oils, Baking Soda + Distilled White Vinegar.

Detergent pods that are available in our vending machine come in a recycled box that we reuse as many times as possible and the pod is toxic free and comes in a biodegradable protective cover that can go directly into the wash.

Provide compost, recycling, and landfill bins throughout the space. By listing what can go in each, customers are educated on how much should be diverted from the landfill. We also offer Terracycle boxes for hard to recycle items.

Collect cigarette butts on the outside of our building. These are then recycled through a program offered by Terracycle for free.

The Shop provides everyday products that are made to last and will not fuel the throwaway, linear economy. We partner with companies that are taking part in a more circular economy -- they take seriously how they source their materials, what their product is made of, how it is packaged, and what happens to it at the end of life/use.

We ship all products in 100% recycled boxes and packaging materials. We include a recyclable sticker on these boxes to encourage our customers to reuse and recycle the shipping materials again and again.

Bulk Refill is available for detergents, soaps, and cleaners. This saves customers money and also decreases the amount of single use containers used on a regular basis. We also offer free recycled containers and bags for people to use if they didn’t bring their own.

Mending + Repair Services are offered to motivate the community to reuse + repair instead of throwing away + buying new.

Offer a clothes drop where customers can take clothes home with them. We donate items left for long periods of time to the Salvation Army.

Devoted a section of our website to “Take Action” where we post articles and resources on how to live cleaner and in better balance with the world around us. Use social media to promote behavioral changes we can all make.

Volunteer time for the following community organizations : Germantown Economic Advisory Committee (GEDAC), Germantown Parks Commission, Germantown Waterfront Committee, Germantown Food Pantry, Germantown Climate Smart Communities Task Force.

Helped raise donations for the following organizations : Germantown Food Pantry, Germantown Parks Commission, Germantown Waterfront, Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Earth Justice, Climate Justice Alliance, We Act for Environmental Justice.

Hired Long Trail Sustainability in 2020 to conduct an analysis of our Carbon Footprint and Life Cycle Assessment to figure out where we stand and how we can do better.

Consulted with a few other companies on beginning steps for decreasing their carbon footprint and making their business more circular.

Collaborated on a monthly Climate Class newsletter to over 1,000 readers with BEST and Long Trail Sustainability.

WHERE WE’RE HEADED

Environmental Justice will be our primary focus this year. We have taken the Intersectional Environmentalism Pledge and now we need to begin the work. Our website needs to be reworked through this lens, as does the work we are doing in our community. We need to make sure we are always considering underserved sections of our community that are most affected by climate change.

Increase the percentage of BIPOC representation across our business including the vendor products we carry, businesses we collaborate with, and future mentorship + job opportunities. Our goal is 10-15% representation.

We have added a Land Acknowledgement to our website and will continue to raise awareness and support for the Stockbridge-Munsee Community that originally inhabited the land that our business now sits. Learn from the indigenous teachings that come from the land knowledge around us and use our business to further explore those lessons.

Enrolled in Gaia’s Ecosystem Restoration Design Course and Foliage Botanic’s Hudson Valley Land Apprenticeship. Hope is to bring a better understanding of the land around us and how our business and the community at large can live as stewards to the land.

Participate in the newly formed Germantown Climate Smart Communities Task Force. Join forces with our town’s governing bodies to help with community education and implementation of sustainability goals.

Review all of the brands we carry to ensure they are truly participating in a circular economy (well-made, non-toxic, ethical and environmentally friendly goods that thoughtfully consider the materials used, production process, transportation methods, labor practices etc). We will reach out to vendors regarding any gaps and help in finding solutions whenever possible.

Work to put into practice the lessons that were made visible from our Long Trail Sustainability Analysis from 2020.

Expanding on our monthly Climate Class newsletter in 2021 to increase engagement with our audience by offering approachable ways for actively participating in a circular economy.