How a Portland company is trying to make zero-waste shopping as easy as possible

Upon entering Mama & Hapa’s zero-waste stores, you’re greeted with fresh aromas and the whirring whirl of large dispensers dispensing shampoos, soaps and cleaners.

At the company’s four Portland-area locations, the goal is to provide a shopping experience that limits single-use plastic as much as possible.

You’ll find everything from face wash and hand soap to muscle-soothing cooling gel and toilet bowl cleaner.

“We have almost every liquid you can think of in your house that isn’t edible,” said Ross Ching, who owns Mama and Hapa with his wife, Nadia Takla.

Beyond liquids, the store also offers a variety of household items without plastic packaging. Here you’ll find bamboo toothbrushes, lip balm in paper tubes rather than plastic tubes, and even cloth diapers.

Ching’s main purpose was to make shopping without waste as accessible as possible. For him, that meant keeping prices low and building a simple in-store system for customers.

The liquid dispensing system in the store is activated by an RFID card. Customers take a card and go from station to station, tapping to start the dispenser flow and removing the card when finished. The card keeps track of what you fill in, then it’s scanned at check-out.

Shoppers can bring their own containers or buy new, reusable ones in store. Mama & Hapa’s also offers a jar collection and drop off program. Customers can turn in unwanted and clean containers for another buyer to use for free. Empty maple syrup glasses and Tostito’s nacho cheese jars line the shelves of that section.

“Usually when you want to do something good for the environment, it always costs more,” Ching said. “And so we try to keep our prices the same as what you would find at Fred Meyer or Safeway.”

Mama & Hapa’s has four locations: two in Portland, one in Milwaukie and one in Beaverton.

“The idea is that you can save plastic and not have to pay more,” Ching said.

If you go: All locations are open daily from 10am to 7pm; 1389 SE Stark Street, Portland; 3806 N. Mississippi Avenue, Portland; 11122 SE Main Street, Milwaukee; 12695 SW Crescent Street #130, Beaverton

— Vickie Connor is a visual journalist covering features, travel and outdoor adventures and co-host of The Oregonian’s Peak Northwest podcast. Get to her at [email protected]