We had the good fortune of connecting with Tonia Soteros and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tonia, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for Recontained came to me very organically. I stumbled upon the statistic that, if every person in America would stop using body wash it would save 2.5 million lbs of plastic going into the landfill every year. I was so profoundly affected by this information that I immediately stopped using body wash. That was a really easy fix changing to bar soap but then I couldn’t stop thinking about all the other products I used on a daily basis, from personal care to home cleaning products. A few weeks later, I was in my bathroom looking at all my products and feeling such guilt and in that moment, I wondered if there was somewhere I could just take all my containers to, to be filled up. This was in 2009 and there was nothing. That is where the idea for Recontained was born. It just took me another 10 years to actually make it happen.

What should our readers know about your business?
Recontained was born out of genuine passion, care and concern for the planet that we are living on. I’m so proud that I have created a company that is taking real action to make a difference. Every refill we do is a plastic container that is not discarded into the waste system where it will most likely end up in a landfill or an ocean. It makes me so happy that people are really embracing the refill concept. Until just recently, we were only able to service the local community in or near Venice but we’ve just launched the Reco Refill Pouch. Now customers from all over the country can buy refills. Once they accumulate 6 packs, they can send back to Recontained to be washed, sanitized and used over and over again. Starting Recontained was not easy. So many things to consider. So many different ways the business could have developed. I think just staying open and fluid to new ideas and having the mental flexibility to pivot and change is key to achieving success. If you’re so set on one idea or outcome, you run the risk of missing out on something that could be an even better option for your business. Change is challenging in most circumstances. It can be really overwhelming and scary when it comes to your business. I have tried to embrace all the twists and turns and be open to things I hadn’t considered but at the same time, hold true to Recontained’s core values; doing right by the planet.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I’m a bit of a homebody so for me, I love an intimate dinner party with nice company and good conversation and good food… and of course, good music. Growing up in Texas, I have a huge affinity for country music. One of my favorite things is getting out to some of the amazing live music venues around town. Willie Nelson at The Bowl, Chris Stapleton at The Palladium and Dwight Yoakam at The Majestic in Ventura are some shows that I made it to and absolutely loved. My favorite restaurants are vegan. My local breakfast spot is called Green Plate. They have this delicious bowl called Love and Sunshine. It’s my favorite. For dinner, I’m a huge fan of Pura Vita. Chef makes everything in-house with the exception of the pasta. It’s so delicious. I love to sit at the dark wood bar and have a glass of their Montepulciano with my dinner. For exercise, I bounce back and forth from hot yoga and pilates. I’ve also been adding hiking to my program. LA has such beautiful landscapes. It’s nice to get out in nature and connect.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Huge shoutout to Britt Kagan. She helped me bring Recontained to life. Ultimately, she opted to step out to pursue other endeavors but she was a huge part of bringing Recontained from an idea and a website that I had been holding onto for years into a real, live, operating business. I’ll be forever grateful.

Website: recontained.com
Instagram: recontained_la
Facebook: recontained

Image Credits
Leah O’Connor

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