By Becky Streeter
Refillable water bottles have been around since the 1960’s, gaining traction in the mid-2000s with the advent of increased environmental awareness. Today, almost everyone has one, if not several. They are a great and effective way to reduce the amount of plastic in our landfills, but what about all the other products we use daily that are housed in plastic? How many hand soaps, laundry detergent containers and shampoo bottles do we toss in the recycling bin or, heaven forbid, the trash when we’re finished with them? The Juggery in Chippewa Falls is here to help.
Located in the Market on River (MOR) building at 128 River St, the Juggery offers bulk refills on everything from glass cleaner and dish soap to face cream and toothpaste. Greta Bergeron, owner of the Juggery, is a huge proponent of the zero-waste movement. “It’s the idea of achieving minimal waste, as much as possible,” says Greta. “In my business, however, I prefer to use the term low-waste because zero-waste is practically impossible.” Because this is the fuel for the Juggery, all of the items for sale in the shop are plastic-free, compostable, and/or reusable.
Never purchased bulk shampoo before? No problem. “A lot of people walk into the Juggery and ask ‘What is a refill and how do you do a refilling?’” Greta says. “I explain the process, that you can bring your own container or purchase one of my cute glass ones, and you pay for products by the ounce.” Shopping at the Juggery does require some planning ahead, especially if you don’t want to lug around a glass jar of laundry detergent for very long. Greta also has a bin of free, cleaned out containers for convenience if you forget to bring your own.
The Juggery was born from Greta’s love of sustainability and her growing unease about the increase of greenwashed products sold in big box stores. “Greenwashing is like brainwashing,” she says. “A bottle of laundry detergent displays a green leaf and says it’s ‘natural,’ but if you turn it over and actually read the ingredients, you find out it’s really not at all.” Greta has thoroughly researched and tested every single product the Juggery offers. “I only buy products I trust and believe in,” she says. “Made vegan, sulfate free, and/or uses organic wild plants. And I also carry a lot of locally-made items. I use pretty much everything I sell, and stand behind it.”
Greta opened her business over two years ago and moved to MOR shortly before its grand opening in 2024, feeling like it was a perfect fit. Many of her ideologies aligned with that of MOR, including supporting local businesses and farmers. Greta dreams of lowering waste in her community and helping spread the movement as far as she can through her business.
“The goal is to reduce waste,” says Greta. “There are so many different ways, and you can choose which path makes the most sense for you.” And refilling products at the Juggery is a great place to start.
Visit thejuggery.com for more information.