shopNUMENA opened its doors this month. The goal behind it is simple to say and hard to reach. Every product and every package plastic free.
We are not there yet, and I won't pretend we are. Some of what you'll find here still arrives in plastic. I chose to open anyway, because waiting for a perfect shelf would mean showing you nothing at all.
Why packaging comes first
Change starts with packaging. Right now I'm working through dropship suppliers and looking closely at what each one ships in, from the box and the fill to the tape and the label. What I learn decides who stays on the shelf. Over time, the products here will shift toward cleaner materials and toward suppliers who are already doing this well.
What I believe needs to happen
I don't think the answer is pretending plastic doesn't exist. I believe the focus should be on moving to alternatives that are proven to work, cleanly repurposing the plastic that already exists, and collecting microplastics.
Honest labels
I'm adding packaging labels to product pages as I confirm what each supplier ships in. Not every page has been updated yet, so a product without a label may still be under review. Third-party suppliers may not meet our plastic-free standard yet, and you should know that before you buy.
Learning in public
Part of why I opened shopNUMENA is to gain the experience and knowledge to help others understand both the dangers and the benefits of moving away from plastic. That means sharing what I find, including what doesn't work.
Help us find what's working
If you've come across packaging or a product that skips the plastic, post a photo and tag #shopNUMENA. I'll share what's working, and some of it may end up on the shelf.
Thoughtful Goods. Smarter Packaging.