LATELY, people have made efforts to lead a zero-waste life. Whether they’re still newbies or practically experts at this lifestyle shift, every initiative makes a difference.
Doing its part in educating and informing community members, AMGU is a store that makes living a zero-waste lifestyle much easier. It aims to spread awareness to the community through its products, showing that there are more ways to live consciously for the sake of the environment.
“We want to raise awareness and want people to know the impact of plastic in our environment; to show them that there are ways on how to reduce the use of it and to encourage people to start living the eco-friendly way. Also, we want everybody to know that no matter how little or less of a change every individual contributes, it will still have a big impact,” shared Rangi Jory Madarang, who founded the store together with Ivy Jane Sumabong.
Since the store opened last April 21, people have come to purchase products—ranging from household items to food products—using reusable containers. Think liquid dishwasher, liquid detergent, fabric conditioner, spices, herbs, baking products, rice, coffee etc.
How it works: A customer weighs his reusable container first, taking note of the weight. He then fills it with any item sold in the store, weighs it and pays for it. If a customer doesn’t have a reusable container? AMGU sells glass jars and bottles that customers can purchase or borrow, and return them or use them for their next refills.
Other products available at the store include cool finds like solid perfume, reef safe sunscreen, natural shampoo bars, menstrual pads and cups, reusable kitchen towels, straws ranging from stainless, bamboo, silicone and paper; as well as foldable and collapsible cups, and lunch kits.
Most of its products are made and produced in the Philippines like the soaps from Dumingag, Zamboaga del Sur made by farmers and locals; the jute or abaca dish scrubs and Ecobar shampoos from Los Baños, Laguna; and coffee from Baguio, to name a few.
“The Philippines is the third largest ocean polluter in the world. Although our government had initiated the ban of single-use plastic, most of us are not aware that it’s not only the single-use plastic that’s affecting our environment but the lifestyle that we have,” shared Madarang about the inspiration behind opening the store. “We want to expand and extend to other markets as well so that people will see that there are alternatives to finally get rid of plastic. And we want to encourage people to start bringing their own containers when they do groceries and that going back to the basics is not a hassle but a better solution.”
AMGU is open from Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at Betty’s Apartment, Queen’s Rd., Camputhaw, Cebu City. / (Contributed Photos)