Galveston Island, located on the Texas Gulf Coast, is celebrated for its enchanting landscapes and diverse ecosystems. Its exceptional geographical position, coupled with a rich history and abundant natural resources, has endowed Galveston with remarkable biodiversity. From its sandy beaches and marshlands to its vibrant forests and wetlands, the island is a haven for numerous plant and animal species, establishing it as a significant hub for ecological conservation.

Driven by a deep reverence for the island’s natural beauty and a desire to safeguard its symbiotic biodiversity, Danielle Colombo established her business, Sunset Refillery. This environmentally friendly shop is dedicated to reducing the amount of single-use packaging that ends up in landfills or as litter that desecrates the natural beauty of the island.

“All the products in my shop are zero-waste and/or refillable, paraben and phthalate free, vegan, crueltyfree, made by small businesses and small batch, many use organic ingredients as much as possible, and many are women-owned,” said Colombo, a 30-year-old island native.

Zero-waste refilleries often prioritize sourcing products from local suppliers and emphasize eco-friendly, natural, or organic options. They also provide information and educational resources on waste reduction, sustainable living, and alternative eco-friendly practices.

The overarching goal is to offer consumers a convenient and accessible way to make conscious choices that contribute to waste reduction and promote a more sustainable lifestyle.

Nestled on the Seawall, in a cozy corner of Galveston, Colombo designed Sunset Refillery to serve as a beacon of hope for individuals eager to make a positive impact on the world around them.

“Refill shops aren’t my original idea because other countries have them, and Texas currently only has five. So, I can’t take credit for that. However, my motivation to open a refill/zero-waste store stems from my love for the ocean, the river, gardening, animals, and the need to live in greater harmony with nature,” said Colombo.

As a child, she grew up surfing on the Gulf of Mexico, participating in organized beach cleanups and recycling efforts, and she consistently practices zero-waste habits such as refilling, eco-bricking, and composting.

“I know there are many like-minded individuals in Galveston, so I hope this store benefits the community by providing a tangible way to reduce plastic waste.”

The shop is stocked with a diverse array of zero-waste and refillable products, meticulously chosen to meet the eco-entrepreneur’s stringent criteria. She procures her inventory from reputable wholesalers like Faire Wholesale, Essential Wholesale, and Griffin Remedy, ensuring that each item adheres to the shop’s high standards.

Sunset Refillery offers an extensive range of refillable products, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotions, face cleansers, and household cleaners. Colombo ensures that all products are clearly labeled, emphasizing their attributes and values, such as being paraben and phthalate-free.

“For instance, you can get an 8-ounce bottle of body wash for between $6 and $7, which amounts to approximately $0.80 per ounce,” explained Colombo.

“I like to provide round labels that can be stuck on your bottle or jar, indicating the different products, such as Scalp Therapy Shampoo, along with a list of their attributes and values.”

In addition to refillable products, customers can find swimwear made from recycled materials, quick-dry towels, sisal sponges, bamboo cutlery, and more.

For those who want to sample the pro-nature lifestyle, Colombo occasionally hosts pop-up shops. The dates, times and locations of these pop-up shops are listed on the Sunset Refillery website.

“Usually for pop-ups, I bring grab-and-go zero-waste products, such as the Turkish cotton towels, quick-dry towels, candles, prepackaged refillables—such as allnatural bug spray, sunscreen, bamboo toothbrushes and floss, bamboo cutlery, cotton mesh market and produce bags, and deodorant.”

She also hopes others will join her and a host of other volunteers at the island-wide World Sea Turtle Day Beach Cleanup, organized by the Turtle Island Restoration Network. The event is from 8:30 to 10:30am on Friday, June 16. Check in is at Menard Park at 28th and Seawall Blvd.

Colombo said it’s important for people to understand that even small changes in daily habits can add up to significant positive impacts on the environment. Her goal is to make it easier for everyone to contribute to the plastic pollution solution.

According to The Ocean Conservancy, the top five types of plastics commonly discovered along the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico are cigarette butts (composed of a plastic known as cellulose acetate), bottle caps, food wrappers, bottles, and plastic shards from unidentified sources. All of these pose a grave threat to marine life, causing entanglement, ingestion, habitat destruction, chemical contamination, disruption of the food chain, and economic repercussions.

Through Sunset Refillery, Colombo aims to provide a tangible way for people to reduce plastic waste and live more in harmony with nature.

Ultimately, Colombo said, caring for the environment is crucial for our own survival, the well-being of other species, and the health of the planet as a whole. It requires collective action and a long-term perspective to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

“My role models are indigenous people who continue to live in harmony with the land, our ancestors, anyone who lived before the Industrial Revolution, and everyone trying to go back to what we had before ‘the throw away’ culture.”

Sunset Refillery is located in Galveston at 4408-B Seawall Blvd., next to Ben & Jerry’s. The refillery is open from 10am to 6pm Wednesday thru Sunday. For more details call 409.974.4020 or visit www.sunsetrefillery.com.

You can also follow the refillery through their social media sites - Instagram: sunset_refillery, Facebook: Sunset Refillery, and TikTok: @sunsetrefillery.

For sustainability novices, Sunset Refillery provides an easy step-by-step system

Container Selection Choose a container according to your preference. Customers can bring their own containers or select from the donated and sanitized containers available in the store.

Tare Weighing Place your empty container on the weighing scale to determine its weight, known as the tare weight.

Filling Fill your chosen container with the desired product.

Checkout Proceed to the register with your filled container. A store clerk will subtract the tare weight of your container from the total weight, ensuring that you are only charged for the product you’ve purchased.