There is something oddly exciting about walking into a space you have only ever seen online before. Last week was one of such experiences when I visited the newly opened zero-waste store by Ecosathi Nepal at Babar Mahal Revisited. The store is the first complete Zero Waste Store of Nepal and a pioneer in sustainable living.
For a long time, zero-waste stores and refill stations seemed like something that existed somewhere else. When going through the rabbit hole of sustainability and zero waste living, I came across many such contents and the one that always fascinated me were the Zero Waste stores with aesthetically pleasing refill stations. I used to watch them in reels and sustainability content from places like Europe or the US, cities like New York and Chicago or perhaps Berlin, and wondered what it would actually feel like to shop in a place like that. Clean refill counters, people carrying their own jars, shelves with carefully labeled products, and a whole system built around reducing waste. It always looked simple in theory and almost aesthetic in practice, but also slightly distant from everyday life here at home.
Eco Sathi has made that dream come true and seeing it now in Kathmandu changes that perspective quite a bit.
The store itself is really well put together. It has a calm and welcoming feel the moment you step in. The aesthetic and minimal layout and design feels really pleasing and inviting. The layout is simple and easy to understand, and you can actually see the quiet intention and vision behind how everything is placed. It feels like a space where you wanna slow down and observe every shelf even though you were just planning a quick visit.
The store sits inside one of the courtyards of Babar Mahal Revisited, and you kind of stumble into it while walking through the brick pathways of the area.
Once you go inside you are warmly greeted by the friendly staff there who are not only generous but extremely helpful to navigate your way while browsing through the zero waste store.
Inside, the shelves are neatly filled with Ecosathi Nepal products that you usually see online but feel different when you actually hold them. Things like bamboo toothbrushes, reusable cutlery, bamboo bottles, combs, soap savers, lip balms, natural deodorants, and other simple daily-use items that are meant to replace plastic-heavy habits. The products here are very practical, like things you could actually start using without changing your whole lifestyle overnight.
There is also a small corner with products from other local businesses, which makes the space feel more connected to the wider community rather than just one brand.
One of the main highlights of Eco Sathi’s Zero Waste is the refill station system. You can bring your own bottle from home or pick one up there, and refill everyday essentials like handwash, dishwash liquid, and floor cleaner. You simply fill what you need and pay by weight. That is it.
While it sounds straightforward, actually doing it feels different. Most of us are so used to picking up a new plastic bottle every time something finishes that the idea of refilling feels unfamiliar at first. But once you try it, it feels really natural. It is not only a satisfying experience but a fun one, where you take what you need instead of buying more than required just because that is how the system usually works. This can feel like you are seeing a small shift in how your shopping can work.
I decided to stock up on handwash, which I had run out of few days prior to visiting the store as a first step into the zero-waste lifestyle. I had taken my everyday used container and refilled it their in the jar. At this store, you can choose to give the plastic you already have a new purpose and that is what I did.
The clarity in the store is really appealing. Every product and refill station has clearly mentioned labels, so you know exactly what you are taking. You are not guessing what is inside or relying on vague packaging. The labels are transparent in the way everything is presented, and it makes the whole experience feel transparent and reliable.
From my experience, this is not only a zero-waste store. It is a space that encourages more mindful choices in general. The product portfolio is thoughtfully selected, and you can actually go through the products that you use for daily life but in zero waste versions. It is a shift in how you think while shopping.
What also makes this interesting is how this idea connects to something much bigger globally. Zero-waste stores are growing in many parts of the world, especially in places where people are actively rethinking how consumption works. Social media has played a big role in this shift. A lot of people first come across refill culture through short videos or posts showing people shopping without packaging, and over time it turns into a habit for some. It’s true that these sustainable products are a great investment for both people and the planet.
But the interesting part is that this idea is not entirely new. In many ways, it connects back to older ways of shopping that already existed here. Smaller local shops, buying in loose quantities, reusing containers, and being careful about waste were all part of everyday life before convenience packaging became the default. What places like Ecosathi are doing is bringing that mindset back in a more structured and modern way.
One of the things I liked was that being a package-free store does not mean letting go of all types of packaging. It just means avoiding single-use plastic and choosing materials that can be composted, recycled, or reused to limit unnecessary waste. Eco Sathi Nepal has made their packaging from such materials which can be refilled or reused or composted.
The location also adds to the experience. Babar Mahal Revisited has always had this mix of old architecture and new creative spaces, and the store fits into that environment perfectly. The symbolism is perfect as Eco Sathi Nepal’s sustainability focused store exists in a place that already carries a sense of history and reinvention like how they have reinvented sustainability in Nepal.
The store has a great potential for growth. Right now, the refill stations already cover a few everyday essentials, but it is easy to imagine it expanding into much more. Things like shampoos, detergents, cooking oils, grains, spices, and other daily household items could all fit into this system over time.When that happens, it could become a part of how people in the city naturally shop.
At the same time, going zero waste is not as easy as it looks from the outside. It takes effort, consistency, and a bit of adjustment in daily routines. It can feel overwhelming at times, especially when convenience is built into almost every part of modern life. That is something I have realized while trying to be more conscious about waste.
Leaving the store, I kept thinking about how small shifts like this often end up shaping bigger changes in how people think and behave. I walked out with a refilled jar of handwash, some bamboo toothbrushes for my family and a deodorant can for this summer wrapped in a newspaper bag.
If you are in Kathmandu, Ecosathi Nepal at Babar Mahal Revisited is worth visiting. Even if you are just curious, it is the kind of place that gives you a clearer sense of what everyday sustainable living could actually look like here. Be intentional on what you need, plan, get your jars that need to be restocked and start small. It's a step towards living a zero waste lifestyle.
And maybe that is the most important part. It makes the idea feel close enough to try.
