Where the Glass Is Greener
One Nashville Company is recycling their way to beautiful things for your home.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle at Sage Refill Market
Several years ago, Diana Duren was driving home from work when she heard a news piece on the radio about how “only 9% of plastic is recycled and the majority was being sent to Asian countries who were no longer accepting our plastic waste from here in the U.S.”
As a result, she decided to conduct a family “trash audit.” For one week, her family of four separated their garbage to determine how much plastic they used. She was disheartened by the results. “Once I knew all of this, it was hard NOT to know,” said Diana. So in 2020, she and husband Mark opened a market in their 12 South neighborhood so others could access ways to reduce waste. They called it Sage Refill Market. (“Sage means both ‘wisdom’ and a ‘cleansing’ herb in some cultures,” said Diana.)
It quickly became a family affair. Diana worked in the store when not at her full-time job, Mark built all the shelving, daughter Lily painted murals on the walls and daughter Grace, who worked as assistant manager, started a thrifted clothing section in the store, which has become one of the store’s most popular spots.
Today, Sage Refill Market is a neighborhood shop full of the clean scents of natural bath, body and home products both in sustainably packaged containers and in bulk from the shop’s refill stations. They also sell jewelry, candles and gifts that are all eco-friendly. You can purchase sleek bottles to refill products or bring in your own containers to fill.
Sage is also focusing on community. They stock much of the store with local and regional products. Some favorites include Little Seed Farm cream deodorant, Swinkhouse reusable paper towels and Emogene & Co. skincare products.
Most days when you enter the store, there is a table out front where you can trade a book, a plant or a game or puzzle. And they are always trying out new recycling programs, like providing a specialized TerraCycle box the first weeks of November where customers brought in Halloween candy wrappers to recycle.
“We are a no-guilt zone,” Diana said. “We would love for customers to come into the shop and start with a simple dish soap refill, a sustainable bar of shampoo or plastic-free ponytail holders. Our hope is that you will love the products and come back to try something new.”
1214 Wedgewood Ave. Nashville, Tennessee 37212
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