"I realized that changing our lifestyle to be respectful of our beautiful planet is also a way to be happier everyday."
In celebration of Plastic Free July, we sat down with Stéphanie Regni, founder of fillgood.co
July 12, 2018
Q: What made you want to start your zero waste journey?
A: When I saw the video of the turtle with the plastic straw stuck in her nose, I had a wake up call. Shortly after, I had an aha moment where I realized disposable plastics are a total nonsense: we take a durable material that doesn’t decompose like everything else in nature, we add toxic additives to it and we use this to make items that we’ll use for a few minutes before discarding them. This is a tremendous waste of natural resources, a major threat to our health and we have to put an end to it!
Q: Tell us about what inspired you to start fillgood.co.
A: When I started reducing waste at home for my family of 4, I changed the products I was using since they were all packaged in plastic. For example, I stopped purchasing liquid shampoo because 552 million plastic bottles of shampoo are discarded every year in the US! Instead, my family uses shampoo bars that’s easy to use and avoids this type of plastic waste.
In my journey to reducing waste, I’ve found amazing products and eco-conscious brands that deeply care about sustainability. I was so excited about these plastic-free alternatives that I really wanted to share them with the world. Plus, I realized that changing our lifestyle to be respectful of our beautiful planet is also a way to be happier everyday. Fillgood was born from a desire to create an online store. At first it was hard for my broader community to adapt and I had to explain why we needed to make a change. I’m lucky to have a very supportive husband and even my daughters are very sensitive to plastic waste.
“I was so excited about these plastic-free alternatives that I really wanted to share them with the world. Plus, I realized that changing our lifestyle to be respectful of our beautiful planet is also a way to be happier everyday.”
Q: Share with us your zero waste beauty routine.
A: My beauty routine has changed a lot over the past two years because I had to find products that were not only plastic free but also safe. Now my skin feels much better!
An unpackaged black bamboo charcoal bar soap for my face (only at night, it’s not necessary in the morning)
An all natural facial cream, in a glass container
A facial mask every weekend, including Samudra clay mask. This mask is a real treat, it illuminates my skin, I’m in love with it! It’s completely safe with 5 ingredients only, it’s vegan, cruelty free and a little goes a long way, which means so many plastic containers avoided! The beautiful detail: the glass jar with the bamboo lid. Zero-waste should always be that pretty! Well done Samudra!
I try to drink 50 oz of water everyday, it definitely has an impact on my skin, so I carry around my reusable water bottle!
Q: What’s your number one tip for people aspiring to live a plastic-free and zero waste lifestyle?
A: One of my first steps into living a zero-waste lifestyle was to purchase a set of reusable bamboo utensils. This is definitely my number one tip because it’s easy and it encouraged me to make more plastic-free changes. I remember when I bought it I was in the line in a grocery store, with my lunch in a to-go box, I saw the set and thought “of course!”. I still have them in my purse, I’ve been using them since 2015! Once you’ve adopted this habit, you’re ready for a zero-waste challenge! Plastic Free July is the perfect time to join the movement.
Join the #SamudraSquad and ‘Choose To Refuse’ single-use plastic.