Oh Eco is Orlando’s one stop eco-friendly shop. Run by Alyssa, Oh Eco is a place for both sustainability and community. Oh Eco has refills to help you divert your waste and lots of eco-friendly options for your home, children, and gifts. They host classes, clothing swaps, and community clean-ups. They even have a little free library in store! Oh Eco offers ways to bring sustainability into everyday life, aiming to teach Central Florida that a sustainable lifestyle is not “all or nothing.” It is the little things that add up to create the full picture. See below for a profile on their business and the meaning of sustainability in our Central Florida community!
What made you inspired to create Oh Eco here in Central Florida and what keeps you going? I opened Oh Eco to make sustainability accessible for our community. When we moved to Orlando, there were no eco shops or resources dedicated to sustainability. I ended up having a traumatic birth and was fired while on disability healing from it all, I decided this was my chance to do something good for the world. So, we opened Orlando’s first eco-friendly shop and refillery to do just that. It’s hard running a small business, but our incredible community keeps me going! Seeing people wanting to learn and try their best is amazing to see.
What do you love most about your small business in House District 42/Central Florida? This community not only supports the planet, but wants to support small businesses, too. I love being in an area that really comes together, you see a lot of families here getting in on the action. We live and work in such a diverse area that supports each other.
What does sustainability mean to you? To me, true sustainability is intersectional. It’s not just about protecting the environment but all humans who live here too. True sustainability is accessibility, it’s healthcare, it’s wellness, it’s a safe place for someone to live. So being sustainable and doing our part is to protect our planet for the future for all.
What are some of your customer’s favorite services/programs from your business? Some of our customer favorites include a lot of the products we make ourselves! Our eucalyptus shower steamer is our number one, and hard to keep in stock. Next would be a tie between our magnesium oil and rose toner – plus they are all refillable! As far as services, our closed loop jar program keeps our refillery accessible and keeps jars out of the landfills. We have helped divert over 15,000 single use bottles from the landfill! Our clothing swaps are also super popular and we hosted the largest one last fall with Keep Orlando Beautiful.
What are your personal tips for those who are looking to transition to zero-waste practices? I always tell people to start small. You don’t need to change your whole life overnight and you do not need to feel guilty for what you can’t do. We run on a sustainable-ish model here. Finish the products you have and then get what you need, just the sustainable version! The bathroom and kitchen tend to be the easiest places to make swaps.
What are your future goals for expanding your zero-waste initiatives? We are opening the first clothing rental boutique, reMODA to help divert fashion and textile waste while also saving people money. We will have unlimited swaps and in person, to help save emissions from more popular clothing rental subscriptions that are all mailed. I also hope to help be a voice and resource for the city through Oh Eco and help eliminate our reliance on plastics in Orlando.
Lastly, how can readers stay up to date with your business and show support in 2024? Readers can keep in touch on social media – @ohecoorlando on all platforms. I share all the store happenings plus easy tips to help make your life a little greener.