Chris Simmonds, owner of Less Than Zero Waste and Refill Shop, discussed bringing his zero waste business to Norfolk. Simmons was inspired to start Less Than after finding it difficult to avoid plastic packaging while shopping online. He opened a mobile zero waste shop before the pandemic hit, then pivoted to a brick-and-mortar store in the Ghent neighborhood when events were canceled.
Less Than offers personal care, pet, baby, and cleaning products in sustainable packaging, along with a refilling station for items usually sold in plastic. Customers bring reusable containers or use Less Than’s to refill basics like soap and shampoo. Simmons says the community response has been overwhelming, with the business growing to 7 locations in under 3 years. He credits his empowered staff for handling day-to-day operations while he focuses on expansion. Looking ahead, Simmons hopes to turn the shop’s non-alcoholic bottle shop, Ceremony, into a non-alcoholic bar.
Check out the full episode for all the details.
