Greenwich is making strides to become more sustainable both in the public and private sectors. While we know that the way you vote and the causes you support can make a difference, we also must remember that the businesses you patronize should also reflect your values.
Make simple changes in your life and shop at businesses or participate with organizations that share a dedication to bettering our environment. Check out MVP’s list of some of our favorite sustainable shops and organizations in town.
1. Mike’s Organic
This sustainable, organic grocery opens a brick and mortar location in Greenwich this weekend, April 29. Mike’s is a small-format grocery store focused on bringing local produce and products to our community. They are dedicated to food transparency, a concept that greatly improves personal sustainability. According to their website, “There are two words we use every single day at Mike’s Organic…Connection and Transparency. A direct connection to the people who grow, raise and make your food and transparency as to what’s on it, what’s in it, when it was picked and more.”
We are excited to see such a mission driven business open up in town. Check it out and see if you can integrate any of their products into your daily life!
2. Waste Free Greenwich
Watse Free Greenwich is a well respected and dedicated organization in town. Their mission is to engage, educate and empower the Greenwich community to waste less through prevention, recycling and diversion.
One of their programs that we love is their partnership with the Town of Greenwich to launch a food scrap recycling program. The program makes it easy for Greenwich residents to compost food scraps from their own home. To date, residents have diverted over 120,000 lbs of food scraps from the waste stream. Click here to find out more!
3. Greenwich Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop
The Auxiliary Thrift Shop is The Greenwich Hospital Auxiliary's high quality resale thrift shop is located at 199 Hamilton Avenue, Greenwich, CT. They take donations of clothing, accessories, books, furniture, and more. Shops like these are a great way to give your unwanted possessions a new life while reducing waste, not to mention that the Greenwich Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop pours the funds they raise back into our community.
4. Greenwich Botanical Center
The Greenwich Botanical Center is a volunteer based organization with educational resources, volunteer programs, events, and even a greenhouse shop! They are dedicated to promoting horticulture, conservation, and the arts. Located in the heart of the Pinetum, this is a great place to visit and learn about our local environment or pick up some native species to grow in your own garden.
5. Greenwich Audubon Center
A staple in our community, the Greenwich Audubon Center is another location with great opportunities for education and volunteering. Greenwich Audubon Center's mission is to protect birds and the places they need. They steward seven nature sanctuaries, totaling 686 acres of diverse habitat in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Visit their center and sanctuaries for a beautiful, educational experience, appreciating the natural scenery of our area. The Audubon also hosts many lectures, bird tours, and volunteer opportunities across their sectors. Check out their website to learn more.
6. Neighbor to Neighbor
Finally, Neighbor to Neighbor is one of the most prevalent organizations in town. They work with our schools, our town, and individuals to improve the lives of residents in need throughout the Greenwich area and strengthen our community by creating access to food, clothing, and basic living essentials.
You may not know that Neighbor to Neighbor accepts donations of food and clothing items all year round. Donating here is a great way to declutter and get rid of extra items in your home and give them to those in need, eliminating waste in the process. Check out their website for food and clothing drop hours and locations.