Remove ImagesUpfront News 2 Aina Ola Soap Refill Shop To Host Grand Opening February 02, 2012 ![]() "I believe it's not only tree huggers who are now well aware of the issues we have caused by over-consumption, over-packaging and over-use of plastic," says Healy. "I am simply providing an alternative for the individuals who get annoyed every time they finish a product in a plastic container and realize they can only recycle it or throw it away. Now they can reuse it to fill up on soap." 'Aina Ola carries "Earth Friendly Products," a brand of nontoxic and neutral pH cleaning products in laundry, dish and hand soaps. They also sell smaller, reusable containers made of PET plastic for $1 to $2. Otherwise, bring whatever container you like and fill it with their quality soaps. In fact, they have a tree mural at the store that gets a new leaf painted on every time they refill a bottle. Healy says they have a little over 50 right now. Most of their products come unscented or in a variety of scents. ECOS laundry soap is their most popular item, and comes in magnolia lily, lavender, lemongrass and free & clear scents. They charge by the liquid ounce and prices range from $0.12/oz to $0.27/oz, depending on the product. They even deliver if the order is $40 or more, and will also drop off full containers and pick up empties for refilling. Healy says Upcountry Fitness was the first business to subscribe to the drop-off and pick-up service, and they're currently looking for vacation rentals and other local businesses to participate as well. "I am not going to say I am an environmentalist," Healy says. "However, I am a consumer who sees a big problem in the excessive packaging of products that is causing our planet to suffer. I am also a mom of three boys and I only wish they can have what I had growing up in nature without any concern for the future." |