In.gredients Opens its East Austin Doors

August 4 marked the final step in a long path for a new Austin store that is so unique, there’s not another one like it in the country. After months of careful planning, preparation, and fundraising, in.gredients has finally opened its doors to the East Austin shop that’s the first package-free and zero-waste grocery store in the United States. It’s a pretty big deal, considering national news media including The Huffington Post, The New York Times, and Epicurious, among a huge list of elite others, have been lauding this day for many months.  

In.gredients’ road to opening was a long one that included a fundraising campaign with IndieGogo, procuring vendors such as Tecolote Farms, Green Gate Farm, and Johnson’s Backyard Farm, and consulting with Break it Down Austin on the best way to deal with packaging and other items that are either recyclable or compostable. Currently, the store is 95% zero waste, which means 95% does not need to go into landfills (most of that 5% is meat packaging). Shoppers and the store can recycle or compost the little bit of packaging found in the store, but rather than focus on those, their goal is to precycle, preventing any need for a disposable container in the first place. In order for this to work, customers bring in their own containers to fill with products from their bulk bins. The first stop in the store is a scale to weigh the containers and receive a sticker with information about the weight, so that it can be subtracted from the final cost. For those who forget containers at home, jars, muslin bags, and other reusable containers are available for purchase. 

It’s a great place to stop for household basics such as coffee, spices, meat, produce, soap, peanut butter, snacks, and other ingredients for a nice weekend at home. Even if you don’t live nearby, some of their unique items are worth the drive, even from a neighborhood like Milwood in North Austin. Unusual produce like sweet potato greens, French Sorrel, and purple Majestic potatoes may not readily be found in other stores or farmers markets. Local cheeses, meats, and items like soap from South Austin People make it easy to support local businesses under one roof. And frankly, their inversion spice bins are just plain fun to play with. Speaking of fun, their small deli inside the store offers pies, empanadas, cheese plates, a Maine Root soda machine, as well as beer, iced coffee, and Kombucha on tap.  

For those looking for a more efficient, eco-friendly way of life, finding a new home in East Austin can make the transition much easier. From various yoga studios, farmers markets, and new stores like in.gredients, eco-friendly efficiency is all around. Austin luxury condos for sale, as well as traditional homes, also can easily be found there, and for anyone looking for a new place to live in the heart of this booming area, the Austin Realtors at Regent Property Group can help.