When Matt Zimbalist and Peter Lollo were growing up together in San Diego, they became environmentalists at an early age—aware of the threat of global warming and determined to do what they could to stop it. When they enrolled at UC Berkeley, they both majored in Conservation and Resource Studies.
Later, Matt met Carly Fishman at an urban farm in Berkeley. Carly had studied food systems and art and design at the University of Michigan, and had worked on sustainable farms and with other food organizations, helping them communicate their missions. She shared Matt and Peter’s devotion to Mother Earth.
When the three of them shared a household, they did all they could to buy in bulk and reduce waste in their daily lives. Eventually, they decided to create a business that would help others do the same, and launched Re-Up Refills in 2020.
They first began selling out of converted shipping containers before moving into the storefront at 6025 College Avenue, where today, five years later, they provide bulk groceries in reusable containers—with a mission to minimize waste, source products responsibly, and inform consumers about environmental and social issues. Its motto: “Groceries… without all the waste.”
Hundreds of products are available, including coffee, oil, bulk items, spices, and soaps. Photos: Anna L Marks
Matt explains:
“For a long time, China was taking most of the foreign plastic recycling and waste imports, but they closed this down in 2018. Since then, most of the plastic collected for recycling in the U.S. actually ends up in landfills or incinerated. So, if you really want to reduce plastic waste, you need to reuse your plastic or glass containers. The Re-Up Refill shop does that both with our customers and our suppliers. You can bring in any of your own containers and we’ll refill them for you, or you can buy our containers and re-use them infinitely.”
Top sellers at Re-Up Refills include refillable hand soap, laundry detergent, organic olive oil, vinegars, rice, peanut butter, and coffee. The shop sources hundreds of products from dozens of tried-and-true suppliers, and hosts an online marketplace in addition to its Rockridge brick-and-mortar location. Re-Up Refill serves about 2,500 families each month, helping them reduce their household waste footprint.
Bring any size or style container, even if it's not yet empty. Video: Anna L Marks
“We’ve become a community hub and grown without much marketing,” says Matt. “Our customers understand the importance of doing their part to preserve our shared environment. They can buy most of what they need by combining weekly trips to a farmers’ market with trips to Re-Up Refills.”
In addition to running the shop with Peter and Carly, Matt offers sustainable construction through his company, Traditional Craftworks, and consults for StopWaste, a public agency that promotes environmental sustainability in Alameda County. He used his construction skills to build out the College Avenue store, while Carly, his partner in business and in life, provides the store’s interior design and Re-Up’s brand design.
Matt, Peter, and Carly are fully committed to doing what they can to protect our beautiful planet, and intend to make it easier for all of us to do the same.
Stop by with your empties for refilling, and say hello to store manager Shayna Moss—and wish the store a happy fifth anniversary. Check out their website and share it with your community.
