One of the defining trends of the 21st century is a mindful approach to natural resources. Year after year, the number of eco-businesses grows—companies focused on practices like sorting, disposal, recycling, and reusing materials. In developed countries, a company’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices directly impacts its bottom line. A Sustainable Village, a Manhattan-based zero-waste home goods store, embodies this eco-conscious business model. Read more about it on manhattanname.
How the Idea Sparked
Em founded the store in 2021. For many years, her relatives, friends, and community members had encouraged her to compost waste, reuse items, and prioritize quality over quantity in her purchases. That’s why, when considering her own business venture, Em opted for an eco-friendly store. Her mission became reducing plastic use, with the ultimate goal of achieving zero waste.
Em drew inspiration from her family, friends, and community. For instance, her mother saved old t-shirts to use as cleaning rags. A friend showed her how to compost in a community garden. The Zero Waste organization also lent its support by regularly restocking essential items.
Home and Body Essentials
The store sells environmentally friendly products and features a “refill station.” You can visit A Sustainable Village to refill your containers with hand soap, dish soap, body wash, hand and body lotion, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, dishwasher tablets, and more. This purchasing method minimizes the need for new plastic containers, directly contributing to waste reduction. As of early 2025, since its opening in 2021, the store has completed over 30,000 refills. Customers can bring their own bottles (even plastic ones) or purchase them directly at the store. So, A Sustainable Village is your go-to zero-waste shop to restock home and body care products when you run out.
Other Business Initiatives
A Sustainable Village partners with One Tree Planted, a non-profit environmental organization that plants trees worldwide. Their work is rooted in the conviction that our future hinges on nature, which provides the essential building blocks for life: clean air, fresh water, and fertile soil. Trees are at the heart of this natural system. By absorbing carbon, they help stabilize the climate and mitigate the effects of global warming. Trees prevent soil erosion and enrich biodiversity, which sustains all life on Earth. Additionally, they act as natural water purifiers. Therefore, every new tree planted is an investment in the future, a contribution to a better life for generations to come.
Between 2014 and early 2025, the organization planted over 130 million trees in 82 countries. This effort has restored over 100,000 hectares of forests worldwide and made more than 100 cities greener. From restoring forest habitats to enhancing food security and improving livelihoods across five global regions, One Tree Planted’s work demonstrates the transformative power of trees.
A Sustainable Village donates to plant a tree for every order over $100. By early 2025, the store had helped plant over 500 trees. Additionally, the store launched the “Sneakers for Trees” initiative. Donate your unused sneakers and help plant new trees.