A new year certainly warrants a new you—doesn’t it? With all of our resolutions to eat healthier and exercise more, we often forget the place where our health journey starts. The home.
Eco-warrior Liz Loranger is the owner of Bear Minimum on Main Street in Boonton. It’s a haven for healthy home and self-care products, not to mention a refillery. Whether you’re looking to swap out a few products or make a complete overhaul, this shop has everything you need.
But there are so many choices! Should you start with cooking utensils? Laundry detergent? Food storage containers? Take a deep breath and relax. Let Liz be your guide. Consider her your eco fairy godmother.
How did you come up with the idea to create Bear Minimum?
Bear Minimum was born because I got pregnant and started really paying attention to ingredients in literally everything—food, bed sheets, personal care, all of it. I became ingredient and material crazy. In Europe, there are refilleries like this all around; they're dime-a-dozen. Then, during COVID, I learned about Good Bottle Refill Shop in Maplewood. She was the first woman-owned business of that kind in New Jersey, and I was immediately inspired. It’s a culmination of my passions for children, caring about the earth, and clean products—I thought that makes complete sense.
What was the first change you made to become more eco-conscious?
The first thing I wanted to change was paper towels. I had one roll left, so I put it above my refrigerator. The only way for me to reach it was to get a stepladder. I bought a pack of white Swedish dishcloths, and that's how we replaced paper towels. I use them to clean the counter and wipe up small messes, so you're not just grabbing five paper towels to wipe your hands. We had to make it really easy to implement some of these new habits. I moved a basket into the kitchen, and that's where you put the dirty rags. So, you don't have an excuse not to do it.
Why paper towels first?
First off, using paper towels hurts your wallet. Virgin trees are being cut down for absolutely no reason. Deforestation is a huge problem I’m super passionate about. Also, paper towels contain bleach. So yes, it's breaking down, but it’s leaching toxic chemicals into wherever it's breaking down. That's the issue.
What’s an easy swap that would make a big impact in creating a healthier home that people wouldn’t necessarily think of?
Those black plastic cooking utensils. They're breaking down into your food every single time you heat them up. Instead, use bamboo cooking utensils. Bamboo is technically a grass, and it regenerates quickly. So, it’s one of those resources we don’t have to worry about depleting. And you’re not putting plastics in your food.
What would you say to someone who feels overwhelmed by making healthy changes in their home? There are so many choices!
One thing at a time! Create that one new habit, for example, replace the paper towels in your kitchen. Give yourself a solid 2-3 months to implement that change. Get used to that, and don't try and do it all at once. Because you're going to overwhelm yourself, even little things make a difference once the new habit is implemented and it sticks. So start slow.
What’s the biggest thing you wish people knew about sustainability and creating a healthy home?
Sustainability isn't just an aesthetic. People like the look of pretty brown glass bottles, and yes, sustainability can look a particular way, but you have to keep that open mind. It's a lifestyle, it's not just an aesthetic. Do your best with what you have first. Take your empty plastics to a refillery. Reuse plastic storage containers for your kids’ arts and crafts. Give what you have another life. How can you reimagine it before you throw it in the garbage? The clean products are not for show. Then you're not accomplishing the goal that you think you want.
Liz’s Favorites
Products available in-store or at https://bearminimumnj.com/
1. Planet B Paperless Towels – Great for your wallet and the environment.
2. Swedish Dish Cloths – Less waste in the kitchen.
3. Mama Suds Laundry Soap – Top-selling refillable!
4. Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls – Less waste and toxic chemicals
5. Green Llama Dishwasher Tablets – No nasty chemicals on your food.
6. Meliora Gentle Home Cleaning Scrub – Gentle cleaning, no chemical residue.
7. Meliora Solid Dish Soap – Another top-seller!
8. Simple Bare Necessities Room & Linen Spray – Natural scents for your fabrics.
9. DollyMoo Candles – No breathing in synthetic fragrances.
10. Bamboo Switch Kitchen Tools – Plastic-free alternative.