Inside, the air smells clean but lived-in, maybe eucalyptus and lavender. Clean, but warm.

This is Gaia’s Market & Refillery, at 1948 Ridge Road in Homewood, a place where customers bring empty bottles and filled compost buckets. Glass jars line the shelves and stainless-steel pumps hold everything from the hand soap to laundry detergent. Behind the counter, Sarah Tozer was in her element.

When Gaia’s opened in 2022, the refill bar was a new concept to many people in town.

“At first, it was really confusing, even intimidating,” Tozer said. “I wasn’t that good at explaining it or helping. Now people come in knowing what it is, and a lot of people still don’t. Some come in saying, ‘What are you doing here?’ They think it’s strange until we start talking.”

She’s learned to meet people where they are.

“If someone comes in more concerned about their health, I’ll talk about ingredients,” she said. “If they’re focused on the environment, then it’s about cutting down on plastics. There are a lot of angles for why it’s great.”

A neighbor and a resource

Over time, the shop has expanded into more than a place to refill bottles. Tozer didn’t expect the business to make her a local resource. 

“People call me asking what to do with things they’re trying to dispose of,” she said. “I don’t always know the answer, but I’ll research it with them, and we’ll figure it out together.”

That energy formed and shaped a partnership with the Homewood Business Association. Gaia’s has co-sponsored recycling events and workshops that have helped inform residents about responsible disposal and reuse.

“I think it’s made people more aware that maybe there’s a better place to take things than just throwing them away,” Tozer said.

She also keeps an eye on regional recycling options like the Center for Hard to Recycle Items at South Suburban College in South Holland. It’s one of the few places that takes harder-to-recycle items.

“At one point they were taking mattresses,” she said. “It’s a great resource.”

Lisa Komorowski, president of the Homewood Business Association and owner of Loulou Belle, said Tozer’s presence has had a noticeable effect.

“I just love Sarah’s passion for the environment and her courage to open a refillery in Homewood,” she said. “Her energy educating our community regarding sustainable practices is such a huge benefit to the South Side.”

Komorowski said Gaia’s Market & Refillery has influenced other local businesses, too.

“Sarah’s sustainable initiatives have educated and made attainable more eco-friendly practices in our business community,” she said. “I’m now more aware of places to recycle packing that comes in weekly to Loulou Belle, and I’ve adopted environmentally friendly products in the shop. I know other HBA members have done the same.”

Komorowski added that the association’s yearly recycling program “keeps growing, and people are happy and thankful to participate.”

Building new habits

As Gaia’s has grown, Tozer has started offering small community events, including clothing swaps, upcycled craft nights, and seasonal recycling drives. She and her mother, Lori Tozer, run the shop together.

“She doesn’t take as much credit as she deserves,” Sarah said.

Tozer’s composting program is still small but steady, with about 15 people bringing buckets each month.

“It’s a modest effort,” she said. “People collect their food scraps, bring them here, and I have someone who picks them up and composts it. They don’t have to do anything, which is nice.”

Keeping it simple

When people ask how to start living more sustainably, Tozer keeps it approachable.

“Don’t try to do everything at once,” she said. “Start with one section of your house, your bathroom sink or your kitchen, and switch over a few things. You’ll never be able to change everything at once, it’s too much.”

Her advice is practical, not preachy.

“People apologize for not buying anything the first time they come in,” she said. “I tell them it’s fine. It’s new, and takes time, walk around, ask questions.”

As the holidays approach, Tozer hopes people will think about sustainablity in small, thoughtful ways.

“Every single thing I sell has a use,” she said. “It has a purpose and even an end-of-life plan, steps for the box, for the jar, whatever it is. If you need to buy something, give a gift that can be used. It’s fun to give people presents, but you can do it responsibly.”

Making an impact close to home

Tozer grew up in Flossmoor, so opening her shop nearby felt natural. 

“People already knew me,” she said. “A lot of them were open to the idea or curious enough to stop in, and now they’re some of my most loyal customers.”

She’s built Gaia’s around the same sense of trust. 

“What I carry might not be the cheapest,” she said, “but it’s good quality and fairly priced.” 

Her mindset extends to how she chooses the companies she works with. 

“I’ve done as much research as anyone can,” she said. “The companies I work with pay fair wages, treat people well, and source ingredients responsibly. My refill section runs on a closed-loop program. Every container I empty here gets sent back to the company headquarters, sanitized, and reused.” 

For Tozer, enviornmental work is rooted in empathy. 

“I’ve always cared about living things,” she said. “Plants, animals, all of it. Humans have changed so much about how things work. I just want to do what I can to help make it better.”