Bonus: Why I Think Loop is Greenwashing

Hey, it's Callee and this is a special episode of the Hippie Haven Podcast! If this is your first time listening here, I release a new episode every Wednesday, where I interview experts + everyday people about living an ethical + eco-friendly lifestyle.

Our top 3 most-listened-to episodes are #10 - How To Go Zero Waste with Kathryn Kellogg of GoingZeroWaste.com, #21 - Secondhand Shopping with Alyssa of Live Planted, and #16 - 12 Steps for a Waste-Free Life in 1 Year with Polly Barks of GreenIndyBlog.com. If you haven't listened to those yet, I highly recommend that you add them to your playlist, as they've got tons of great zero waste tips!

Now, I've been wanting to start doing special bonus episodes as well, a bit shorter + more personal than our usual Wednesday interviews, and also unedited, so please forgive me if I mess up here or there. Some big stuff happened in the sustainability field this week that seemed like a great topic to cover in my first bonus episode!

Since you're listening to my podcast, I assume you're into the zero waste movement, which means you've very likely heard the recent news about the launch of Loop. Loop is a program with the mission of eliminating the idea of waste by creating returnable, refillable packaging for common consumer items, like Coca-Cola soda, Pampers diapers, Axe Deodorant, Haagen Daaz ice cream, and dozens of other popular products.

But if you've heard about Loop, you've probably also heard people talking about if it's really as good as it's being made out to be. My friends Polly of Green Indy Blog and April aka Zero Waste Dork just did an IG live today where they discussed how they felt about it, and I wanted to share my own thoughts here as well.

Learn more about Loop here: https://loopstore.com/

The Hippie Haven Podcast is hosted by Callee - a zero waste activist & business owner. Formerly a translator for the US Navy, Callee was honorably discharged as a conscientious objector in 2017 following an episode of severe depression & alcoholism fueled by not living in alignment with her core values. That same year, at age 23, she started Bestowed Essentials, a handmade line of eco-friendly beauty & home products that are now stocked in over 100 stores around the US & Canada. Callee began hosting this free podcast in August 2018, as well as speaking at events and teaching educational workshops across the country, as part of her life mission to arm you with the knowledge & tools you need to spark positive change in your community. In December 2019, she opened The Hippie Haven in Rapid City, South Dakota - a zero waste retail store & community space with a little free library - the first of its kind in the state. She’ll be opening a second Hippie Haven in Salem, Oregon in Feb 2021.

Follow along on Instagram - @ahippieinavan & @hippiehavenshop & @bestowedessentials

Shop zero waste home goods at www.hippiehavenshop.com

Read podcast transcripts at www.hippiehavenpodcast.com