SAN DIEGO — Some businesses aren't just making the green, they're turning certified green.
A grocery store in North County prides itself on sustainable living, freshness, cost-effectiveness and healthier options. Local Scoop is a zero-waste store and refillery working towards this eco-friendly recognition.
"I've taken too much from life by the ocean, and I want to protect it for future generations. And for years I was like package free stores, sustainable grocery and it never came up, so I was like, I'm going to make it happen," said Founder and Owner Katie Fletcher.
Local Scoop is just off South Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas. This zero-waste grocery store has hundreds of food items, dry bulk goods, teas, coffees and grains, in addition to shampoos, conditioners, body washes, detergents and more.
"We have bamboo scrub brushes, and loofa sponges and bamboo matcha whisks, honestly a little bit of everything," Fletcher said, "but it's all plastic free, reusable, made with sustainable materials."
How it works
To get started, Local Scoop supplies brown compostable bags and free jars. Some were even donated by the community. They are washed with food grade cleaning solution, sanitized with high heat and dried. You can also bring any empty containers you have at home.
"Bring what you have, it doesn't have to be fancy," explained Fletcher. "We take the initial weight using these little tag systems. It's an electronic tear and you can fill up with a lot or a little, and then we scan that tag in the back, and it subtracts the empty weight, and you pay for the difference."
By implementing eco-friendly practices at Local Scoop, Fletcher is working toward joining a growing number of businesses in San Diego County, and all of Southern California, that are "green certified."
"Going green, saves green. So, every ounce of energy you don't use, every ounce of water that you save, every bit of trash you don't send to the dumpster or landfill, saves you money," said Robert Carr, the Training and Program Manager for the San Diego Green Building Council.
The council is now a part of the U.S. Green Building Council California. It has joined other likeminded councils across California to use money from the state to implement eco-friendly programs. When it comes to getting the green light on your green business, Carr said you should look at how your eco-friendly practices impact our community as a whole.
"A lot of businesses do things that are sustainable, but to be green business certified, especially with the California Green Business network, it's very holistic. It's more than just being energy efficient, using non-toxic cleaning materials; do you have recycled content for your paper products, how do you interact with your community," said Carr.
There is a checklist of different certification requirements for office, retail, auto shops, restaurants, hotels and even home offices. You can go to greenbusinessca.org. This site will provide more information catered to your business, and set you up with a coordinator, like Robert.
Local Scoop is almost there. Katie finished filling out her paperwork, had a full sweep of the store and is implementing suggestions from the Green Business Council. Once finalized, Local Scoop will join the over 150 green certified businesses here in San Diego County.
"I think we're lucky to be in a time where these sorts of alternatives are readily available to us, and also being a source of information and education to let people know, 'hey, you can do it this way or that way' and sort of evolve is an honor in our community," said Fletcher.
WATCH RELATED: Composting with the Zero Waste Family (Jan. 11, 2023)