Toronto's first zero-waste shop is officially open (PHOTOS)

Your grocery shopping game just changed, big-time.

Because Unboxed Market, Toronto’s first brick-and-mortar zero-waste shop, has officially opened at Dundas and Dovercourt.

See also

• Toronto is about to get a zero waste market and cafe
• Toronto's first brick-and-mortar zero-waste shop opens next week
• The milkman is about to make a comeback in Toronto

And you can’t miss it—the bright yellow front doors and the warm glow of light from inside invite you in. Once you’ve entered, it’s like you’ve gone back to the future.

Because the space is filled with a combination of old-fashioned jars, jugs and re-usables while maintaining a modern atmosphere.

One of Unboxed’s major features is a café with BYO-mug coffee and beverage station. Plus treats, of course. Everything comes package-free, which encourages visitors to bring their own containers.

If you forget, you can get a vessel to carry your snack in that’s totally compostable.

Milk is sold in returnable glass bottles, which is phenomenally retro in the greatest of ways. You know, like high-waisted jeans… and scrunchies. (We stan.)

In addition to all the edible goods, there’s also a section where you can fill up on shampoo, laundry detergent, and other products that help you to feel squeaky clean.

The market’s kitchen and bakery includes a smokehouse and charcuterie room, where you can enjoy fresh, ready-to-eat meals from.

There are also tons of bulk items to choose from, like dried beans and pulses, and veggies that are sold without all that unnecessary plastic wrap.

Cheese is wrapped in plastic because it’s the only thing available, at this point, that holds enough moisture around these hunks of goodness. But every piece of plastic wrap is reused on the same cheese, so it’s still very limited waste.

Unboxed is officially soft-open right now, and the Grand Opening will be on Monday, March 4.

So grab your reusable grocery bag and your trusty mason jars, and swing by this new spot when you’re looking to stock up on… literally whatever needs stocking up on.

This is a corner store for change-makers.

Unboxed Market

Address: 1263 Dundas Street West
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday – 9 am to 9 pm; Sunday – 10 am to 6 pm; closed Mondays
When: Soft open now, Grand Opening on Monday, March 4

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