- Attraction: Simple Bare Necessities
- Location: 17 Main St, Sparta, NJ 07871
- Industry: Retail Store
- Website: https://www.sbnzerowaste.com
What if your weekly shopping trip could actively fight plastic pollution?
At Simple Bare Necessities in downtown Sparta, that shift happens every time a customer walks through the door with an empty container.
This zero-waste refillery has transformed how northern New Jersey residents think about everyday purchases, proving that sustainable shopping can be practical, affordable, and genuinely enjoyable.
Founded by Mikaela Turner (also known as Mikaela Molnar), who began her zero-waste journey back in 2017, Simple Bare Necessities opened its brick-and-mortar location on Earth Day 2021.
The concept takes inspiration from pre-1950s shopping methods—before single-use packaging dominated consumer culture—and reimagines it for modern environmental needs.
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Keep Exploring →You bring your own bottles, jars, and containers, then fill them with whatever you need. Pay by weight, not by packaging. Since opening, the shop has saved over 7,600 containers from entering landfills.
What You Can Refill & Buy
Organic Bulk Foods: The pantry section features over 100 different organic food items sold completely package-free. You can scoop up rice varieties, multiple types of beans, quinoa, flour, nuts, dried fruits, granola, snacks, coffee, and loose-leaf teas.
Everything gets weighed at checkout, so you control exactly how much you purchase. Whether you need just two tablespoons of a specialty spice or five pounds of almonds, you take home precisely what you want.
Personal Care Products: The personal care refill station covers all your bathroom essentials. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap, and lotion all come in bulk dispensers with various natural scent options.
The dry shampoo has earned particular praise from regular customers for actually working better than conventional brands. You can also find bar soaps made without animal ingredients, along with sustainable alternatives like bamboo toothbrushes and reusable cotton rounds.
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Discover MoreCleaning Supplies: Household cleaning becomes surprisingly economical when you refill. Laundry detergent, dish soap, all-purpose cleaners, floor cleaners, and bathroom cleaners all flow from bulk dispensers into whatever container you bring.
The scent selections range from lavender to citrus to unscented options, and the formulas use clean, chemical-free ingredients that perform just as well as mainstream brands. Refilling a large laundry jug costs considerably less than buying new bottles repeatedly.
Sustainable Swaps: Beyond refillables, the shop stocks clever plastic-free alternatives to everyday items. Retro-style reusable tissue boxes add charm to your nightstand while eliminating cardboard waste.
Soap-saver bags made from natural fibers work as gentle exfoliants while extending the life of bar soaps. Reusable produce bags, beeswax wraps, stainless steel straws, and similar items help customers eliminate single-use plastics across their entire household.
Thrift Section: A newer addition to the store includes curated secondhand items, staying true to the shop’s commitment to reducing consumption and waste. This section rotates regularly with quality pre-loved goods.
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Keep Exploring →Shopping Experience & Store Layout
The Refill Process: First-timers might wonder how refilling actually works, but the system proves remarkably simple. Bring any clean container—mason jars, old detergent jugs, pasta sauce jars, shampoo bottles, whatever you have.
Containers get weighed empty (called the tare weight), then you fill them with your chosen product, and checkout only charges you for the product weight itself. No mystery. No waste. Just straightforward shopping that feels surprisingly satisfying.
Store Organization: Despite being located on the lower level of 17 Main Street (behind Astrology Boutique), the space feels bright, welcoming, and exceptionally well-organized.
Product categories are clearly marked, making it easy to find what you need whether you’re a regular or visiting for the first time. The layout maximizes the available space without feeling cramped or cluttered.
Unexpected Fun Factor: Shopping for laundry detergent rarely qualifies as entertainment, yet customers consistently describe their refillery experience as genuinely enjoyable.
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Discover MoreThere’s something oddly satisfying about filling your own containers, choosing your preferred scents, and watching your collection of reusable vessels grow over time. Weekly visits become something to look forward to rather than just another errand.
Atmosphere & Community Connection
Mission-Driven Vibe: Walking into Simple Bare Necessities feels different from typical retail experiences. The entire operation radiates genuine passion for environmental change rather than profit-focused commerce.
Educational information about plastic pollution and sustainable living appears throughout the space, helping customers understand the impact of their choices without feeling preachy or overwhelming.
Local Sourcing: Whenever possible, products come from local farmers and makers within the region. The shop partners with vendors who embrace the same environmental values, creating a closed-loop system where even the bulk packaging gets returned, sanitized, refilled, and reused.
This commitment to ethical sourcing means you’re supporting a network of conscious businesses with every purchase.
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Keep Exploring →Community Hub: Beyond retail, Simple Bare Necessities has become a gathering point for environmentally-minded locals.
The shop organizes monthly community cleanups around Sussex County, supplying trash picker-uppers and collection bags for volunteers who want to make a tangible difference.
These events regularly draw participants from area high schools and families looking to teach kids about environmental stewardship.
Practical Considerations
Pricing & Value: Here’s where Simple Bare Necessities truly shines—shopping sustainably costs less, not more. Since you only pay for product weight without markups for fancy packaging or brand-name bottles, most items come in cheaper than their conventional counterparts at big-box stores.
Floor cleaner and countertop spray refills deliver substantial savings over time. The quality matches or exceeds mainstream products, making this approach both economically and environmentally smart.
Parking & Access: The shop provides parking around back, making visits convenient despite the lower-level location. Downtown Sparta offers a walkable, small-town atmosphere, so you might easily combine your refill stop with other local errands.
Gift Shopping: Simple Bare Necessities has become a go-to destination for thoughtful gifts. Curated gift baskets featuring vegan soaps, specialty food items like vodka sauce, and sustainable home goods make unique presents that introduce others to zero-waste living.
The selection includes items you won’t find elsewhere, offering unexpected sustainable versions of ordinary products.
Who’ll Love It: Anyone interested in reducing their environmental footprint will find value here, from committed zero-waste enthusiasts to curious beginners taking first steps toward sustainable living. Vegans appreciate the animal-ingredient-free options.
Parents shopping with kids discover that sustainability education can happen naturally during routine errands. The accessible approach makes low-waste living achievable regardless of where you’re starting from.
Inventory Growth: The shop has more than tripled its inventory since opening, responding to customer demand and continuously expanding product offerings. Regular visitors consistently discover new items during their weekly refill trips, keeping the experience fresh and encouraging exploration of additional sustainable swaps.
Simple Bare Necessities
📍 17 Main St, Sparta, NJ 07871
