Offering Healthier Options at Refillable Goods!

Talk of the Town

Offering Healthier Options at Refillable Goods!

611 Penn Avenue, West Reading www.refillablegoods.com

(Photo credit Josephine’s Photography) Jaylene Torres and Paola Cevallos, Refillable Goods

Born as a delivery service and pop-up shop at festivals and flea markets in July 2020, Refillable Goods’ owners Jaylene Torres and Paolo Cevallos say they were encouraged by their customers and community to open a storefront at their dream location on Penn Avenue in May 2021. The partners believe the culture, community, and Avenues location are ideal for any small businesses to thrive but are especially appropriate for their niche concept.

At Refillable Goods, customers will find hair care, skincare, hygiene, and household cleaning products plus accessories. The brands are toxic-free and made with plant-based ingredients that have low-waste or compostable packaging. Liquid and powder products are sold by the ounce and customers can refill any container they may already have at home.

Favorite Products? Jaylene: “It is always changing but my top three at the moment are the BluTonic Cleansing Oil by FeelThis, the dry body brush, and the Oneka Elements Lavender & Angelica shampoo.” Paola: “I have been most impressed by our laundry detergents by Rustic Strength, Ecoslay’s Orange Marmalade Curl Definer Gel, and the deodorants by Kokoa Botanics.”

Why Refillable Goods? Jalyene explains that her son was born in 2019 and developed dry, itchy, and inflamed skin diagnosed as eczema. An unsuccessful round of recommended treatments to sooth his skin led Jaylene to discover that many of the baby products contained skin irritants and cancerous-causing ingredients. Research showed her that regulations allow cosmetics to be marketed as natural but contain no plant-based ingredients, and may even have the ability to cause health concerns.

Jaylene says, “In the past couple years I’ve grown more conscious of the items I buy, their ingredients, and the packaging. My motivation for launching Refillable Goods is to ensure that my family, friends, and community have access to safe products free of unnecessary toxins.” Becoming a vegan almost five years ago inspired Paola to learn more about what the food industry keeps hidden from the public. She became aware that many industries have unethical and wasteful production practices.

Paola says, “My goal with Refillable Goods is to raise awareness and encourage people to think about the lifecycle of a product: the resources it takes to produce it, what happens to it when you are done using it, and how every step of the process affects people and the planet.”

Greatest rewards? Hearing customers say they have been waiting for a store like Refillable Goods validates their mission, according to Jaylene and Paola. They are both fulfilled by the ability to provide people with the opportunity to make healthier choices for both their bodies and the planet.

If you could choose another Avenues business where you could work for a day, what would you choose and why? Jaylene: “Taqueria Comalli for sure! I love Mexican food and being a vegetarian, I have many options here; they are always delicious, consistent and fulfilling. I’d love to learn how they make their Fungi Medley.” Paola: “Spoonful Thai Bistro because I love how most of their menu can be veganized. Their food never disappoints!”