Plastic waste isn’t just an environmental issue in Victoria; it’s a daily reality for the local organizations trying to stem the tide, one refill or creative reuse project at a time.
Now, four of those groups are getting a much-needed boost.
As part of the province’s CleanBC Plastics Action Fund, over $8 million is being invested into 34 B.C.-based projects in 2025, and $354,468 of that is heading to Victoria, where a diverse group of businesses is already rolling up its sleeves.
“In such a beautiful region surrounded by water, we know first-hand how plastic pollution impacts ecosystems,” Darlene Rotchford, MLA for Esquimalt-Colwood said. “By reducing and diverting waste, these projects are helping make the region cleaner and healthier for everyone.”
Among the recipients is Victoria’s own Supply Creative Reuse Society, awarded $94,241 for a multi-pronged initiative aimed at tackling waste before it begins.
The society’s reuse retail lead, Jo Gowan, said the money is being split across several projects, including a community workshop series called Mindful Mending.
“It’s going to be based on teaching the importance of repairing things instead of replacing them,” Gowan said. “And it’ll all use our recycled materials here at the shop.”
Other plans include launching a new set of creative reuse kits, large-scale art installations that promote upcycling, and bolstering the organization’s waste-tracking system – something Gowan admitted was a learning curve.
“I didn’t know how to measure greenhouse gas emissions before,” Gowan said. “But the funding gives us the mentorship and time to build those systems properly – so our staff and volunteers can actually understand and share the impact we’re having.”
The all-hands-on-deck approach is typical for the grassroots group, where a few part-time staff members, backed by a volunteer board and community supporters, make up a small and dedicated team. The society has been active since 2018 and recently moved into a larger space in the heart of downtown.
At its heart, Gowan said, the store isn’t just a place to shop – it’s a space to connect.
“We just really want to be a community third space,” Gowan said. “It’s not about buying things. It’s about exchanging ideas, skills, creativity. We have a table where people can sit and do crafts, or just hang out.”
At Nezza Naturals, on Johnson Street downtown, the sentiment is the same, just with a slightly different approach.
The family-owned business received $35,000 in CleanBC funding to support a major renovation of its refill bar, a central feature at their two locations in Victoria.
Assistant manager Sydney Howell said the grant money couldn’t have come at a better time.
“We’ve been planning to do a bunch of renovations and improvements,” Howell said. “This is a big step for us in continuing to provide refills across Canada.”
Nezza, which has been offering local products for nearly two decades, already has one of the city’s most robust refill programs. But Howell said demand is growing, and the funding will help the store expand the range of products it can offer in bulk.
“There are some products, like our loose clays, that we haven’t been able to refill yet,” Howell said. “This will help change that. Reusing old bottles is one of the easiest ways individuals can reduce waste, and we want to make that as accessible as possible.”
Nezza has already made major changes to reduce its own plastic use – switching to aluminum and glass packaging, for example – but Howell said the real goal is empowering customers to change their habits too.
The other two Victoria recipients also come from very different corners of the sustainability space.
Destination Greater Victoria received $111,421 to support its sustainable drinking water program – a circular initiative aimed at eliminating single-use plastic bottles in the tourism sector.
Meanwhile, Good World Materials was awarded $113,806 to support the transformation of ocean plastic into durable, functional furniture.
Together, the four projects represent a cross-section of Victoria’s growing low-waste ecosystem – from nonprofits and refill shops to tourism and design. And according to Victoria–Swan Lake MLA Nina Krieger, the funding recognizes what’s already happening on the ground.
“Organizations in Victoria have been doing great work to make our community more sustainable and reduce waste,” Krieger said. “This funding will help build on that work and get us closer to a healthier future.”
