Help shape the Earthies™ 🌍✨ Reuse Library

Here's what Earthies™ 🌍✨ members told us

528 responses 15 questions Shaped the Reuse Library

Thank you to the 528 Earthies™ 🌎✨ members who shared their voices between March and April 2026. Your responses directly shaped the Earthies™ 🌍✨ Reuse Library.

Click through each step below to see what you told us, question by question, and how each finding guided our decisions.

Survey closed Saturday, April 11th, 2026.

Thank you for being part of the Earthies™ 🌏✨ program

Your voice helped shape the Reuse Library. Keep an eye out for future opportunities to earn Earthies™ 🌍✨ - your feedback continues to guide Exist Green as we grow.

Click Next to walk through what 528 members told us, question by question.

This project is supported by the American Express Backing Small Businesses Grant Program, presented by American Express and Main Street America.

Q1. How often do you currently bring your own containers when shopping at Exist Green?

n = 528 responses

What we built: 60% of you already bring your own containers on most or every visit, so the Reuse Library was designed as a backup for the moments you forget, not a replacement for what you already do.

Q2. How often have you decided not to buy something at Exist Green because you didn't have a container?

n = 528 responses

What we built: 54% have walked away from a purchase because you did not have a container. The Reuse Library closes that gap.

This project is supported by the American Express Backing Small Businesses Grant Program, presented by American Express and Main Street America.

Q3. When you buy something without your own container, what typically happens? Select all that applied

n = 870 responses

What we built: 76% had grabbed a donated jar in a pinch. Community donated jars are not going away. They run side by side with the Reuse Library, not one in place of the other.

This project is supported by the American Express Backing Small Businesses Grant Program, presented by American Express and Main Street America.

Q4. Which thoughts have you had about using donated and sanitized jars? Select all that applied

n = 583 responses

This project is supported by the American Express Backing Small Businesses Grant Program, presented by American Express and Main Street America.

Q5. Would you use the Reuse Library to borrow a commercially sanitized, plastic-free container?

n = 528 responses

What we built: 80% said they would probably, definitely, or maybe borrow from the Reuse Library. Only 4% said it was not for them, so we committed to building it.

Q6. How appealing are organic cotton reusable bags, commercially laundered and sanitized at high temperatures?

n = 528 responses

This project is supported by the American Express Backing Small Businesses Grant Program, presented by American Express and Main Street America.

Q7. Would standard container sizes with set volumes (e.g. 1 cup, 2 cups) make shopping with us easier?

n = 527 responses

What we built: 86% find a standardized jar lineup appealing. This was the single most-agreed-on element of the program, so we built a fleet in set sizes (1 cup, 2 cups, etc.) built from glass, stainless steel, and silicone to hold up through many cycles.

Q8. How long would you realistically need to keep each type of container before returning it?

Reusable bags - empty at home and bring them back on your next visit.

n = 528 responses

Pantry jars - things like spices, peanut butter, or honey.

n = 528 responses

Pouring jars - things like oils, soap, or shampoo.

n = 528 responses

What we built: For reusable bags: "About a month" was your top answer at 50%. We matched it exactly. For pantry jars: 55% said 3-6 months and 35% said a couple months — we landed at about four months, right in the middle. For pouring jars: top two answers were "a couple months" (41%) and "about a month" (38%) — we split the difference at about two months.

This project is supported by the American Express Backing Small Businesses Grant Program, presented by American Express and Main Street America.

Q9. What would make it easiest for you to return containers on time? Select all that applied

n = 1370 responses

What we built: 76% said reminders would help and 75% said after-hours drop-off would too. Both are in the program: SMS and email reminders before your window closes, plus an outside drop box for cotton bags.

Q10. How confident are you that you would return borrowed containers regularly?

n = 528 responses

This project is supported by the American Express Backing Small Businesses Grant Program, presented by American Express and Main Street America.

Q11. When not shopping at Exist Green, how do you typically get your groceries and household essentials? Select all that applied

n = 752 responses

Q12. Would you use the Reuse Library for pickup or delivery orders?

n = 528 responses

This project is supported by the American Express Backing Small Businesses Grant Program, presented by American Express and Main Street America.

Q13. A small number of Earthies™ 🌎✨ are held from your balance when you borrow, returned when you bring it back. How does this feel?

n = 528 responses

What we built: Held Earthies serve as a trust mark, not a fee. Return on time and they come back in full — 1 Earthie for bags, 2 for jars, flat across all sizes so choosing a bigger container for a bigger trip is never penalized.

Q14. If a container goes past due, held Earthies™ 🌍✨ forfeited and new checkouts paused. How does this feel?

n = 528 responses

What we built: Designed to work with real life, not against it. Bring it in for a refill (counts as both a return and a fresh checkout), request a 7-day extension once per checkout, or just return it late (only those specific Earthies forfeited, account stays active so you can keep shopping).

This project is supported by the American Express Backing Small Businesses Grant Program, presented by American Express and Main Street America.

Q15. If you had an overdue container, which resolution options would you want available? Select all that applied

n = 1067 responses

What we built: Four options are built into the program: bring it in for a refill, request an extension, return it late, or buy it to keep. You choose what works for your situation.

Q16. In your own words

A curated selection of what Earthies™ 🌏✨ members shared at the end of the survey. Hover to pause.

“This is a great idea and I really hope it works!”

An Earthies member

“Could be a revolution if executed correctly. I wish you the best of luck.”

An Earthies member

“Love this as an option, but still please let us bring our own containers to refill.”

An Earthies member

“Life happens. A grace period would be very helpful, along with a reminder text.”

An Earthies member

“I like the checkout option frozen until items returned. I'd rather not lose Earthies.”

An Earthies member

“The after-hours dropoff would be a game changer for me. I work 9 to 6 all week, so my first instinct would be to avoid borrowing because I might not be able to get it back in time.”

An Earthies member

“My ADHD makes returning things on time very difficult. I'm sure I'm not the only one.”

An Earthies member

“I might recommend a pilot program before investing too much in it, just to make sure it's financially sustainable.”

An Earthies member

“This survey is a great opportunity for customers to feel their part of the decision-making process. Thank you!”

An Earthies member

“I love that you are putting lots of thought into this system. We need new systems for our 'broken' status quo.”

An Earthies member

See how we plan to use these results moving forward →

This project is supported by the American Express Backing Small Businesses Grant Program, presented by American Express and Main Street America.

Here's what Earthies™ 🌍✨ members told us

Thank you for being part of the Earthies™ 🌏✨ program

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