Frequently Asked Questions

As the saying goes, "We don't need a handful of people doing sustainable living perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly."

We know that the term "zero waste" can be a little intimidating. But trust us - it's not as scary as it seems. The term is a reference to an ideal state and, while this may seem impossible, only good things can come from reducing our impact on the environment and live more consciously.

When you arrive at Mission Refill, one of our team members will weigh your containers and attach an RFID tag records the weight. Head to the refill bar and fill as much as you need or ask a team member to help. Bring the filled containers to the counter and you will be charged by the ounce according to the price listed, minus the weight of your containers.

The bottle swap option gives you a fast and convenient way to reduce your waste. You can purchase a pre-filled bottle of commonly used household and personal care items. The first time you check out, you will be charged a bottle deposit between $4 and $7 in addition to the price of your product. Then, when you bring the bottle back, you can either collect your deposit or make a quick swap for a full bottle without paying the deposit again.

Bring any clean and dry container with a secure lid. Empty jelly jars, kombucha bottles, or take out containers will work. Some of our products are better suited toward glass (e.g. citric acid) but plastic containers work just as well.

Don’t stress. We’ve got you. If you forget your own containers, you can ask one of our team members for a community container. Community containers are clean, dry jars or bottles donated by other Mission Refill customers.

We also offer Bottle Swap which allows you to walk away with a pre-filled bottle of our most popular refill products. You pay an extra bottle deposit that is returned or waived on your next swap.

You can also check out the many pump and spray bottles for sale. You can purchase and fill during the same visit.

Nearly all of our products are shipped to us in very large quantities from 5-gallon buckets to 50-gallon drums. If you ask us, plastic one-gallon jugs can hardly be considered "bulk!" Then, we strive for a closed-loop system with all of our manufacturers. Basically, when our bulk containers are empty, we send them back to our suppliers to be cleaned and refilled. If we can't return them for some reason, we find creative ways to reuse them.

We're also big fans of reducing our environmental impact wherever we can, which is why we ask all of our suppliers to ship products to us without plastic. Most of the time, they're packaged in cardboard boxes and paper wraps, which we reuse for our own shipping needs, donate to anyone who wants them, or simply bring to our local recycling center.

We've carefully chosen products made with 100% natural ingredients, meaning you won't find any harmful endocrine disruptors, artificial preservatives, petroleum derivatives, artificial fragrances, or anything that's not EWG safe in our store. It's our way of ensuring that you and your family are only exposed to the best, most natural products available.

And it's not just about what's in the products - it's about how they're made, too. That's why we partner exclusively with brands that are deeply committed to protecting the planet. Every brand we carry is dedicated to using cruelty-free and natural ingredients, so you can feel good about your purchase in more ways than one.

At our store, we value transparency. That's why every ingredient in every product is fully disclosed, and nothing is hidden from our customers. Because we believe that the more you know, the more empowered you are to make informed choices about the products you use and the impact they have on our planet.

Most of our products are vegan and cruelty free. Just check the ingredient lists and contact us with any questions.

At this time, we do not sell food items in bulk. Our store inventory focuses on sustainable or package free household, cleaning and personal care items.

While we don’t offer samples, we often have 1-2oz community containers that can be filled for less than $1.

One of the coolest things about shopping in bulk is that everything can be a sample size. Not sure you're ready to commit to a new laundry scent? Just grab a few ounces and give it a test run. Not sure if that shampoo is going to work for your hair type? Snag a few pumps and see how it goes.

So next time you're in our store, don't be afraid to get a little experimental. Grab just enough to get you through the week (or two), and refill as needed. Because when you're able to buy in bulk, the possibilities are endless.

Due to the unpredictable nature of shipping in refilled containers, we do not currently ship our bulk goods.

We greatly value your business and suggest looking at our many sustainably packaged alternatives.

Most of our packaged are shipped in gently used boxed with used or sustainable packaging materials.

We currently do not offer delivery but are looking into partners that will allow for local delivery in the Goleta and Santa Barbara areas in early 2024.

We do not offer refunds or returns on any of our bulk items. Unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days of purchase. Please see our full return policy for details.

We do not ship internationally at this time.