Full Breakdown
The Unwaste Shop Expands Sustainable Living to Beverly
12/23/2025, 11:04:52 AM
Core Event: Opening of The Unwaste Shop Beverly
On November 28, 2025, Randi Alexander and Todd Barancik opened a second location of The Unwaste Shop in Beverly, Chicago. This zero-waste store aims to provide sustainable alternatives to everyday items, addressing the growing demand for eco-friendly products in the community. The shop features a refill station where customers can bring their own containers to fill with various household items, including bath, body, beauty products, dry goods, and cleaning supplies. Alexander emphasized the store's mission to eliminate single-use plastics, stating, “Our goal is to try and eliminate single-use plastics and provide sustainable alternatives for everyday items.”
Background & Context: The Journey to Sustainability
The Unwaste Shop was initially founded in 2021 as a pop-up by Broadway performers Jessica Naimy and Ben Mayne in West Town. Todd Barancik acquired the business in early 2022, and Randi Alexander joined shortly after, leading to the opening of their first permanent location in the West Loop. Alexander's commitment to sustainable living began a decade ago during her travels across the United States, where she became acutely aware of waste issues while visiting national parks.
Community Engagement and Partnerships
The Unwaste Shop Beverly is actively engaging with the local community and partnering with organizations such as Reduce Waste Chicago and EcoShip. Reduce Waste Chicago focuses on empowering residents to combat climate change through waste reduction, while EcoShip collects and redistributes shipping materials for reuse. The Beverly location is currently collecting non-working holiday string lights and used shipping materials in collaboration with these nonprofits.
Official Statements & Responses
Randi Alexander expressed her hopes for the new location, stating, “With this business, part of the difficulty is accessibility. It isn’t accessible or convenient. So many people want to do it, but it’s not easy.” She noted that the community's response has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the support received since the store's opening. Alexander aims to create an inclusive environment, saying, “We want people to feel comfortable here no matter where they are. There is no judgement.”
Upcoming Events and Initiatives
The Unwaste Shop Beverly plans to host a Do It Yourself Bookmaking Workshop on January 24, 2026, led by artist Kelly Laughlin. This workshop will allow participants to create their own soft-cover journals using traditional bookmaking tools, with all materials provided.
Criticism & Opposition: Accessibility Challenges
Despite the positive reception, Alexander acknowledges that accessibility remains a challenge for many potential customers. She aims to make sustainable living more attainable and convenient for the community, recognizing that not everyone has the means or knowledge to adopt eco-friendly practices.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our goal is to try and eliminate single-use plastics and provide sustainable alternatives for everyday items,” — Randi Alexander, Co-owner of The Unwaste Shop
- “With this business, part of the difficulty is accessibility. It isn’t accessible or convenient. So many people want to do it, but it’s not easy.” — Randi Alexander, Co-owner of The Unwaste Shop
- “I have been so blown away from the community response.” — Randi Alexander, Co-owner of The Unwaste Shop
- “We want people to feel comfortable here no matter where they are,” — Randi Alexander, Co-owner of The Unwaste Shop
