Meet A Greener Place
Victoria Garofalo had been working as a biologist for almost ten years but felt like something was missing in her life.
With two young children, Garofalo was worried about their future and wanted to make a bigger difference to leave them with a healthier planet and a greener future.
“Everyday seeing the news and images of the state of our climate and pollution impacts is overwhelming, but the idea that this is what we will leave our children breaks my heart and I refuse to sit idle and watch it happen,” said Garofalo.
In July 2019, after months of research, Garofalo opened up an eco-friendly shop in Waterdown – selling sustainable products that reduce waste by reducing consumption and packaging.
Fittingly named A Greener Place, all products are made of organic and vegan formulations and are respectful to the environment in that they don’t include carcinogens, parabens, phosphates, or sulfates.
“We strongly believe in well-made, reusable products that last vs cheap single use products. We want our products to be economically accessible and work well without breaking the bank because we don’t want people feeling like they can’t afford to shop sustainably,” said Victoria.
What ultimately inspired you to found A Greener Place?
How do you source your products? Which criteria do you follow to determine what you will showcase?
What are some go-to products from A Greener Place that you regularly incorporate in your own lifestyle?
For people new to sustainable living, interested in making their first eco-friendly swaps, how do you suggest they begin their journey?
I encourage people to choose a space in their home that they feel produces the most waste – this is usually the kitchen or bathroom. Making changes to the products they use and re-use won’t happen all at once – nor should it. Don’t toss items just because they are plastic – use up what you have first, then when you’re ready to swap for a sustainable alternative, we are here to help. Our refillable products are a great place to start since most people already have a soap pump, shampoo bottle, laundry jug, etc laying around at home. Instead of recycling it – bring it to A Greener Place to refill instead! Our refills also allow you to try as much or as little of a product, so you can ensure that you don’t end up stuck with a full bottle of a product you don’t like and won’t end up using.