Charlotte Sustainable Guide
We know how hard and overwhelming transitioning to a more sustainable lifestyle can be, so we wanted to provide additional help to the Charlotte community with a list of local businesses that support sustainable living in our area.
Food
- Farmers Market, we are lucky to have several farmers' markets here in Charlotte, find the list here. Of course, our favorites are the South End Market and the North End Farmers Market, where you can find Ekologicall and several other wonderful farmers, bakers and crafters, respectively every Saturday from 8:00am to 1:00pm and Wednesday from 4:00pm to 8:00pm!
- Farm Fresh Carolinas does a great job bringing fresh local and organic produce directly to homes and offices. I have personally reduced drastically my plastic waste and number of trips to the grocery stores since I use their services. Farm Fresh Carolinas uses reusable insulated bags and accepts my reusable produce bags to pack and deliver delicious fruits and veggies. No contract! No more PLU stickers! Use the code "EKO" and receive 20% off your first order!
- Freshlist is on a mission to cultivate a better food system by bringing you fresh, healthy food grown on family farms in our community.
- Market Wagon brings a farmers market to your doorstep by creating online farmers markets with delivery to give consumers more access to local food. Started in Indianapolis in 2016, Market Wagon now operates in the Charlotte area.
- CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) programs with Bush-N-Vine Farm, Wild Hope Farm, Tega Hills Farm.
- Savory Spices in South End allows you to refill your spices containers (only the ones you bought from them).
- Provisions Waxhaw offers a wide range of local fresh food products. You can by in bulk flour, sugar, grains...
- Lake View Farms, they are your good old milkman guys, who deliver hormone free, antibiotic free, free range dairy in glass bottles that are sanitized and reused for other home deliveries.
- Earth Fare accepts your own containers. Write the weight in lbs on your jars.
- Whole Foods has a bulk section and accepts your containers.
- Sprouts also offers a bulk section.
Grow your own food
- The Patio Farmer will help you grow your own food no matter what size space you have at home. Whether you are starting from scratch, looking for a few new tricks and tips, need help tackling a big (or small) project, The Patio Farmer is here to assist! The Patio Farmer is a partner of Ekologicall and offers you 50% of your first consultation!
Compost
- Compost your food scraps with Crown Town Compost. They will gladly provide you with a bucket to fill up with fruits and vegetables scraps, corn cob, banana peel, grass clippings, used paper napkins, towels, tissues, plates, egg shells, nuts and grains, tea bags/leaves, coffee grinds... They can come to you or you can come drop off your bucket @southendmarket on Saturday mornings! Enter the code "EKOLOGICALL" when you sign-up for Crown Town Compost services and get one month free ($20-$30 value).
- MakeSoil is an online platform that matches ‘Soil Makers’ (people who compost) with nearby ‘Soil Supporters’ (people who contribute scraps).
- ShareWaste connects people who wish to recycle their kitchen scraps with their neighbors who are already composting, worm-farming or keep chickens. Now you can divert waste from landfill while getting to know the people around you!
Fashion ~ Clothing Thrifting
Assistance League Charlotte, 5426 Old Pineville Rd. Charlotte, NC 28217
Value Village off South Boulevard / Archale or Central Avenue
Community Thrift on Freedoom
Zabs
Goodwill and Goodwill Boutique - 3609 South Blvd
Clothes Mentor - Arboretum
Bargain Hunters on Lawyers / Albermarle Rd
Salvation Army - Central Avenue (Half off on clothes on Wednesdays)
Thrift Pony in Plaza Midwood
Plato's Closet in Matthews
Clothes Mentor: Midtown, South Charlotte, Rock Hill
Pets
- Pet Wants Charlotte will refill your container with all-natural, safe pet food.
Recycling information
- Mecklenburg County Solid Waste
Second Hand - Reuse - Upcycled
- That's Novel Books: used bookstore located in Camp North End, you'll find a wide selection of formerly-loved books, as well as a small selection of new books written by local Charlotte authors.
- Carolina Urban Lumber reduces waste by repurposing local Carolina trees to their upcycled prime.
- Buy Nothing group on Facebook
- Goodwill
- The Sleepy Poet Antique Mall for antiques, collectables & vintage items
- ReStore Habitat for Humanity, used and gently used furniture, appliances and hone decor
- The Salvation Army
- Facebook Marketplace
- Not local but the fashion industry is the 3rd most polluting industry in the world so check Poshmark, Vinted, ThredUp, eBay and others for second hand clothes, shoes, accessories.
Yard Debris
Leaf Burrito, avoid the plastic or paper bags when collecting the leaves, grass clippings, weeds... from your yard, and opt for a reusable and durable bag. Tell Marc that Ekologicall sent you :)
Other local resources and initiatives
- Sustain Charlotte is a community-based nonprofit organization advocating for smart growth solutions to Charlotte's sustainability challenges. Sustain Charlotte helps you advocate for a healthy, equitable, and vibrant community for generations to come.
Envision Charlotte will make Charlotte’s urban core a living laboratory to foster innovation and first-of-their kind programs to improve sustainability, resilience, economic competitiveness and quality of life that can be measured, scaled and replicated beyond the urban core and in other communities.
Keep Charlotte Beautiful (KCB) inspires and educates people to act every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Many opportunities to volunteer and improve the cleanliness and beauty of the Queen City.
The Innovation Barn, opening Spring 2021, will be the hub for Charlotte’s transition to the circular economy. The Innovation Barn will showcase several closed loop systems, incubate new programs, offer learning opportunities and create a place for sustainability enthusiasts to collaborate.
- Trees Charlotte was created, in 2012, as a public/private collaboration dedicated to planting trees, primarily through volunteer efforts with a focus on underserved communities. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, TreesCharlotte also educates Charlotte’s residents on the importance of the canopy and ways to plant and preserve trees.
***Let's grow this list together! You know a local business that helps our community to leave more sustainably, please share it with us! Send us an email at contact@ekologicall.com***