Buffalo’s first zero-waste shop has entered the chat.
You’ll find Little Salmon nestled in a familiar nook of the Elmwood Village, rubbing elbows with neighborhood staples like Kuni’s and The Place.
The store name is a nod to the familiar frustration shop owner Tracey Wei felt with her own attempts to reduce waste and lessen the harmful effects that human behaviors have on the environment. At times, it can feel like (you guessed it) a salmon swimming against the current.
Thankfully, Tracey channeled her passion into a larger purpose by introducing Little Salmon to the small business scene in 2021. The shop sources and sells products that promote an attainable low-waste lifestyle—all by making simple swaps that cut down on single-use plastic without sacrificing function or usability.
The mentality at Little Salmon is progress, not perfection. Browsers at every stage of their zero-waste journey are welcome, even if that stage is just marveling at the minimalist storefront that Tracey has created or exploring what’s stocked on the shelves. To the right are a few of our top picks for getting started.
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The Refillery | Prices vary
The showpiece of Little Salmon is the shop refill program, which encourages patrons to phase out the single-use plastic containers we unconsciously purchase each time we stock up shampoo, dish soap, laundry detergent, deodorant and more. Instead, customers can bring reusable containers to Little Salmon to re-up on essential items.
Solid soap & lotion bars | $3.50-20
Another option to nix single-use plastic from bathroom essentials is by turning to a solid cleansing bar, available for shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and even (by some magic) lotion.
Handy soap-saver bags are also available to extend the life of solid soaps, and the sisal bags also double as exfoliating washcloths.
Reusable silicone bags | $10-25
You’ll never need a Ziploc to store leftovers or on-the-go snacks again. The dimensional design of these stand-up bags, available in various sizes, offers more storage. For added convenience, these bags are safe for the dishwasher, microwave and oven (up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit).
Reusable cotton rounds | $14
Though the name might be misleading, disposable cotton balls are not biodegradable and typically come packaged in single-use plastic. These reusable rounds found at Little Salmon are made with best-in-class ingredients and even have an extra finger pocket for the easy application of toners, serums and makeup remover. Cleansing couldn’t be easier, thanks to durable cotton that’s machine washable.
Stainless steel compost bins | $25
Little Salmon’s enthusiastic team members are a great community resource for those looking to start composting. The shop offers a stainless steel compost bin—dishwasher safe!—to store organic scraps before transferring the mixture to an outdoor compost pile or taking it to a community compost drop-off location.
The bin also features a filtered lid, which acts as a deodorizer to keep food scraps from smelling.
