Welcome to Jax Zero, where reducing your plastic footprint is as easy as a day at the beach – minus the plastic trash! I’m Jessica Longo, your guide to a more eco-friendly lifestyle. With over 5 years of zero-waste living under my belt, I’ve learned that you don’t need to be perfect; you just need to be passionate about doing better for our beautiful planet.
I stumbled upon the idea for Jax Zero because, like you, I was underwhelmed by the sustainable options around us. I wanted a place where I could fill up my containers with all the eco-friendly goodness I craved, and I wanted to do it right here in Jacksonville. After all, this isn’t rocket science; it’s just about doing our part to keep our oceans and planet plastic-free.
One day, I read a quote by Anne-Marie Bonneau that felt like a lightbulb moment:
“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
Suddenly, it all clicked. I didn’t have to be the zero-waste guru; I just needed to take action. And so, the journey began.
I realized that my lack of experience might’ve been like trying to surf a giant wave without ever having seen the ocean. But Anne-Marie’s words kept echoing in my head: it wasn’t about being perfect; it was about taking that first step. I set out to create the most convenient, accessible, and sustainable zero-waste haven I could muster.
It turns out; it was one wave after another, with a few wipeouts along the way. Prices seemed to defy gravity, and the term “greenwashing” became a thorn in my side. Everyone was jumping on the “green” bandwagon, making it harder to spot genuinely eco-friendly products amid the sea of green noise. So, I rolled up my sleeves, tapped into my trusty research skills (thank you, UNF!), and navigated through the murky waters of vague claims and unproven promises. After a lot of determination, I finally discovered a select few vendors who shared our commitment to making our planet happier and healthier.
Unfortunately, after three incredible years of running our zero-waste shop, I’ve had to make the difficult decision to close our retail doors at the end of 2023.
It’s a bittersweet moment for Jax Zero, and I want to express my sincere gratitude for those of you who have offered your unwavering support and dedication to our mission. While this chapter may be coming to a close, I’m excited that my journey towards a greener world will continue in a different form.
The Jax Zero website will remain active, offering a treasure trove of blog posts brimming with valuable information, practical tips, and boundless encouragement for the zero-waste lifestyle.
Though I’m saddened that our physical shop won’t be a part of your daily lives, I’m genuinely excited to stay connected with you and explore new avenues for making a positive impact together.
Let’s keep the zero-waste momentum alive, embracing this change as an opportunity to grow, learn, and continue making our planet a better place.
Together, we’re going to help Jacksonville lead by example because, as Robert Swam so aptly put it,
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”
So, grab your refillable water bottles, and let’s dive into a greener, cleaner future, one eco-friendly step at a time!
