Home refill business propels New Mexico toward a greener future

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KRQE) – Have you considered how much plastic waste you buy during your grocery store trip? An Albuquerque woman is paying attention, and her vision is to make New Mexico green one bottle at a time.

“My main job is to help the environment and help the state of New Mexico,” Gabriel Parulli said. Parrulli has been in her business Gabrielle’s Greenery for a little over a year.

She’s bringing this custom airflow to pop-ups, coffee shops and even private homes in hopes of making New Mexico greener.

“It’s hard to push a new concept to people. You can’t force anyone to accept it,” Parulli said.

Now, she’s trying to help New Mexicans cut down on plastic waste by giving them an easy way to replenish everyday items like shampoo, lotion and laundry detergent.

“Bring your own bottle and I’ll refill it so that the more bottles are made in the world, the more plastic bottles we buy and the more they make,” Parrulli said.

The service hasn’t been as widely used as she’d hoped, but she’s holding on to her beliefs.

“People keep telling me you should go to California and you’ll do well in those places. I know, but I want to be here. I think New Mexico deserves some recognition. We’re the last trend. I think we deserve it Some good things, even better things in life,” Parulli said.

Parrulli says it’s creating a domino effect.

“Even though I didn’t have an immediate impact, it was expanding, and other people told me they were inspired to open something like this,” Parrulli said.

Since Gabrielle’s Greenery opened, two more similarly styled businesses have opened across the state, for a total of five.

“That’s how I started. I’ve seen some people do it in California and New York, Colorado,” Pallulli said.

This summer, she opted to add more options to her clients, such as Windex-style tablets and water-soluble laundry tablets.

“We have sunscreens that are very popular this summer. We have unscented ones, we have piña colada scented,” says Parrulli.

Parrulli has hosted more than 50 events since opening in May 2021, and she hopes to double that number in the coming year to make a bigger impact.

“For me, it’s not about the money, really, it’s just about the people I think are in my community, I love the people in my place, and I want to help make a difference,” Parrulli said.

If you would like to contact Gabrielle for information on pop-up events or personal supplements, please click here.

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