Sustainable Haus Mercantile, NJ
As an adventurer and health enthusiast when a new store offering goods in alignment with my values opens I do my best to get there. In an age where brick and mortar stores are closing the team at Sustainable Haus Mercantile are creating a community and passionately teaching on a wide range health and planet-conscious topics. The owner Janette Spiezio is executing the vision born in her laundry room once upon a time, which inspired her to start making her own laundry detergent. She wanted a product that worked, with simple, healthy, household ingredients. This is the mission of Sustainable Haus Mercantile; Healthy People. Healthy Home. Healthy Planet.
Spiezio is a dynamo who managed to make 7000 masks through the pandemic that began two weeks after she opened the doors of Sustainable Haus on February 15, 2020. Sustainable Haus Mercantile is New Jersey’s first and largest plastic free refill shop that also offers a wide selection of children’s toys, “haus-wares”, gifts, and more. Spiezio herself is a pillar of the community who through the sales of their soaps, detergents, and masks were able to classify as an essential business and remain open through 2020. Everything in the building is curated by the team or made in the back by Spiezio at her sewing machine(I said dynamo, she does not stop!) knowing the person who makes the things showing up in your house is a beautiful thing and her passion behind her mission shines through everything she touches.
In 2018, Spiezio began selling handmade goods and curated items at farmer’s markets and online. All the fabric Spiezio uses at Sustainable Haus thrifted or donated fabric or bought from sustainable companies. Spiezio herself sews with cotton thread which is a rare feat in a world where plastic is everywhere, you can purchase textiles she’s reimagined or even rent them for a larger party along with a variety of tableware. Sustainable Haus Mercantile is constantly setting themselves apart from other similarly minded textile companies who use blended or plastic thread by using cotton everything is truly compostable.
A lot of the soap we buy is mostly water and this includes shampoo, Sustainable Haus Mercantile has a selection of shampoo and conditioner solids. I bought the dip one in the scent Mimosa and Sandalwood and was dazzled by how well it conditioned my curly hair. While shopping at this first of its kind New Jersey establishment I was also able to encounter another local brand Hyssop Beauty Apothecary, which has already been featured in Harper’s Bazaar.
I fancied myself aware of chemicals in beauty products and passionately preach about the Environmental Working Group—I was startled to learn how far we all have to go, especially as it applies to nail polish. Beauty innovation has come a long way in the health space with better conscious options that now also have wonderful color payoff, without the most dangerous chemicals used in most nail polish. I picked up a bottle of 15 free “W/S”(With Simplicity) in Love Triangle and loved how long it lasted along with how vibrant the color was.
Here is a breakdown of the chemicals in nail polish we are all looking to avoid:
Formaldehyde, an intense smelling and colorless gas, typically used as a nail hardener in nail polishes, has been linked to some types of cancer, including leukemia, in humans when exposed in high amounts, according to the American Cancer Society. Though formaldehyde does occur naturally in the environment and is present in small amounts in most living organisms, it is recognized as a carcinogen by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as well as by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Toluene is a colorless, sweet-smelling industrial solvent that temporarily affects the nervous system and can cause strong eye and nose irritation as well as dizziness and fatigue when inhaled, according to the EPA. It is not characterized as a carcinogen, but is a teratogen, an agent that can disturb the development of the embryo or fetus after prolonged exposure.
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is commonly used as a plasticizer to promote material flexibility and reduce brittleness, and it can cause irritations, headaches and dizziness when inhaled.
most non-toxic nail polishes are 3-free, meaning they do not contain formaldehyde, toluene or dibutyl phthalate, three known disrupters.
Beyond that, polishes go as far as being 10-, 14- or even 16-free. Here's the breakdown of what's missing (thankfully!) from those formulas:
5-free contains no formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor
7-free contains no formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene
9-free contains no formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, acetone
10-free contains no formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, acetone, TPHP, TBHP, gluten
14-free contains no formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, TPHP, gluten, MEHQ/HQ, MIT, palm oil, animal-derived ingredients.
16-free contains no formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, acetone, TPHP, animal-derived ingredients, bisphenol A (BPA), sulfates, e-series glycol ethers, benzophenone 1, 2, nonylphenol ethoxylate
Water-based formulas incorporate non-synthetic pigments and aqueous acrylic polymers, plus they are also odorless
You can find more information on what ingredients make up your current beauty routine by visiting Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database or using an app like Yuka.
Upcoming Sustainable Haus Mercantile Events include sustainability talks over breakfast, Sustainable Craft Night Out, and Thursday Open Crafting from 12-5pm. Spiezio and her passionate team also host educational classes for those looking to live a more sustainable or zero waste life, non-toxic cleaning classes, and you can also book your own private party(for this call: (908)273-4494) or consultation
Make sure you check out Sustainable Haus Mercantile in person, on tiktok, instagram, facebook, and of course their own website to see their labor of love and begin your own efforts to limit exposure to toxins and make the world a more sustainable place.
This article was unpaid and I purchased all my products at Sustainable Haus Mercantile, they deserve a rave and are doing fabulous work from the greatest place anyone can; their hearts.
Upcoming Events:
Sustainable Haus Mercantile Craft Night
1) Smudge Stick to cleanse the home, and Lavender/Flax Eye Pillow for relaxation (combined value of $35). You may bring in up to three pieces of 10" square cotton (or natural fiber) fabric or select from our fabrics. One piece is included in the pricing and any additional are $20.
2) Furoshiki and Gift Wrapping valued at $30. You will get 2 Furoshiki cloths plus gift wrapping supplies. You can buy or bring in a few gifts to wrap!
3) Make two Warm 'N Cozy Heating/Cooling Pads valued at $28. You may bring in up to three pieces of 12" square cotton (or natural fiber) used and clean fabric or select from our fabrics. Two is included in the pricing and any additional are $12.
Sustainable Haus Mercantile’s April schedule
https://www.sustainablehaus.com
https://www.sustainablehaus.com
221 Broad Street
Summit, NJ 07901
(908)273-4494
Closed Monday
10am - 6pm Tuesday
10am - 6pm Wednesday
9am - 7:30pm Thursday
10am - 6pm Friday
10am - 6pm Saturday
11am - 5pm Sunday
Holiday Hours:
Easter: CLOSED
July 4th CLOSED
Thanksgiving Eve 10am - 3pm
Thanksgiving CLOSED
Christmas Eve 9am-3pm
Christmas CLOSED
New Years Eve 9am-3pm
New Years Day CLOSED
MS
Have a question or looking to get fit? contact: stronger@sherlockfit.com