Maria Vasco knew Boston was missing something. 

Vasco, a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Boston who majored in environmental studies and sustainability, opened Uvida, Boston’s first zero-waste store, in 2020 after noticing a gap in the market. Vasco, 27, wanted to live more sustainably but saw there were no zero-waste stores in the city to support that lifestyle. 

“I found out that there was no zero-waste store, and so I wanted to solve my personal issue,” Vasco said. 

Uvida first opened its doors at 28 Atlantic Ave. in Boston’s North End. Dripping in green, the storefront invited passersby to explore a carefully curated selection of sustainable items.  

After relocating several times, Uvida has now found a permanent home at 189 North St. with the help of the Supporting Pandemic Affected Community Enterprises Grant program, which “identified creative ways to bring people back to commercial districts to revitalize [Boston’s] local economy.” 

Raised by two entrepreneurial parents, Vasco, who was born in Colombia, always dreamed of starting her own business. 

“I think it was very natural for me to want the same kind of business model, but just in a much different field,” Vasco said. 

Shelves neatly stocked with a variety of zero-waste products —  all of which meet the plastic-free criterion to be sold there — line the walls of Uvida.

“We always require that not only the product is plastic-free, but also the way they package it, when they’re shipping it to the store and the materials that protect the products. The shipping also has to be plastic-free,” Vasco said. “We support a lot of small business vendors in our store.” 

Toothpaste tablets, metal straws, reusable shopping bags and upcycled candles are among the items featured. Along the opposing wall, a refill station offers everyday essentials like all-natural laundry detergent, hand soap and hand sanitizer gel. Customers are encouraged to bring their own containers, though Uvida also provides containers to purchase if needed, with the hope that single-use packaging waste will be minimized. 

“The majority of our customers are already in their zero waste journeys,” Vasco said. 

But for those new to sustainable shopping, Vasco recommends that customers start with the items they use every day, since these are the ones people tend to throw out most often. 

For Jordan Whitaker, a fourth-year environmental science major and the president of Northeastern’s Husky Environmental Action Team, the largest sustainability club on campus, dental care was the place to start. 

“My dental care routine [was] not plastic free,” Whitaker said. “[Uvida] has compostable toothbrushes that I have always really liked and they work well. Same with floss, and they have little mouthwash tablets too.” 

Like Whitaker, others in the community are finding that sustainable living often starts with simple swaps. 

“I’m trying to get into [sustainable practices] little by little by switching things out,” said Pamela Feo, a frequent customer at Uvida. “When I have to buy something new, I think to myself, ‘Do I need it the way I’ve been buying it or is there a better way to do that?’” 

Although the store may not offer the same practicality as larger retailers, some argue the benefits of shopping sustainably outweigh the extra effort. 

“From a convenience perspective, it’s easier to go to your local grocery store, Target or whatever is close by,” Whitaker said. “But when you have a moment and you’re able to slow things down, it’s beneficial to you and your planet to be like ‘Okay, I have an extra hour of free time today. I’m going to go make the trip to the zero-waste store because I know that it’s supporting a good business.’” 

For Vasco, every small change customers make is a step in the right direction. 

“I’ve learned a lot that it’s really a bigger system that we were all born into. We did not invent plastic ourselves, but it is very much a part of our society,” Vasco said. “The goal is to backtrack from that and really support alternatives, which means alternative businesses, alternative materials and alternative systems overall.”