RCBC ZERO WASTE PROFILE
Business Case Study
Zero Waste Market
Canada’s first 100% package-free grocery store
tackles plastics pollution and food waste.
After seeing the effects of ocean plastics pollution
firsthand as a marine mammal biologist, Brianna Miller
decided to take action by creating Zero Waste Market,
Canada’s first 100% package free grocery store.
Along with co-founder Paula Amiama and employee
Alison Carr, Miller has been running monthly pop-up
shops at Vancouver’s Patagonia store since October
2015, with plans to open a flagship store by the end of
2016. Miller hopes to set a precedent in the grocery
store industry and inspire both suppliers and
consumers to think about eliminating waste.
Change Through the Supply Chain
Zero Waste Market works closely with nearby,
sustainability-minded suppliers who are willing to align
their operations with zero waste principles. This
includes delivering orders in reusable bins and
accepting them back for refilling.
Recycling Council of BC - www.rcbc.ca 604-732-9253 or toll-free 1-800-667-4321
Patrons are encouraged to bring clean reusable
containers and bulk bags from home; they can be
weighed at the tare station and then filled with the
market’s selection of local, organic, and ethically
sourced foods.
“We are making a serious effort to
normalize this movement to make it
the norm rather than a niche.”
On the food waste front, Zero Waste Market works to
source and sell imperfect fruits and vegetables. Miller
believes that local sourcing lies at the heart of Zero
Waste Market’s business model: Shipping waste is cut
down dramatically due to short supply chains, spent
dollars flow back into the local economy, and
customers are exposed to new ways to reduce their
environmental footprint.
RCBC ZERO WASTE PROFILE
ZERO WASTE
MARKET
SHAREABLES:

✦ Working with 30 local

suppliers
✦ Diverting over 2,000
containers
✦ Prioritizing initiatives
like local Earth Day
events and Mindful
Movie Nights
✦ Running workshops
for children at the
Vancouver School
Board
✦ Speaking at events
for Green Bricks and
UBC Neighbourhood
Association
✦ Engaging with the
Zero Waste Vancouver
Facebook group on
zero waste and local
food system issues

Breaking Old Habits, Making New Ones
While still in its infancy, Miller’s venture has been
warmly embraced by Vancouverites; new and existing
customers from a wide range of age groups visit the
pop-up markets every month. Currently the chief
focus is working with everyone to ensure that they
fully understand the zero waste concept. Some
suppliers quickly grasp the philosophy while others
require further conversations:
“Many of our suppliers can get
behind the reusable container idea,
but then send along packaged
ensure food safety while reducing much of the waste
that exists in the grocery store sector.
Going Forward
Once secured with a permanent retail space, Miller is
looking forward to expand the scope of what Zero
Waste Market can do by providing workshop space to
host community groups and public educational
initiatives. Miller is looking forward to working with
and supporting other non-profit and community-
based groups that focus on food education, waste
reduction, and sustainability. She believes that many
of these ideas and practices can be incorporated into
the grocery industry.

samples for us to try.” While waste reduction will always be the central focus
of Zero Waste Market, another mandate will revolve
around food accessibility. Unsold food will be donated
Regulatory issues also pose challenges. The
to local organizations to ensure that food is available
Vancouver Coastal Health and Canadian Food
to those who most need it.
Inspection Agency guidelines related to food
packaging and BYOC (bring your own container)
For more information and updates on the new store,
methods are still unclear in some areas, but Miller is
please visit http://www.zerowastemarket.ca/
committed to working with these regulatory bodies to

Recycling Council of BC - www.rcbc.ca 604-732-9253 or toll-free 1-800-667-4321