Drop WeChat to Grow Your Business, Say Zero-Waste Entrepreneur Couple

Anna Pellegrin Hartley | Dec 22, 2018 9:00 am | Add a comment | 2572 reads

At first glance, this year could be viewed in many ways as unexceptional, yet the first thing that struck us from conducting these interviews for The Year From Every Angle is that by and large 2018 was a year of progress.

The positivity and hope displayed among these seemingly disparate endeavors, including art, activism, mental health, and even the leisure pursuits have arisen from communities quietly coalescing around a number of shared and strengthening goals and beliefs. Though some of those objectives fell afoul of the authorities, advancements over the last 12 months have laid a solid groundwork for what looks to be a fine year ahead.

Before we gaze forward, however, it’s time to read back on Beijing’s 2018 from (nearly) every angle.

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Name: Joseph Harvey and Carrie Yu

Title: Owners and Founders, The Bulk House
2018 in 5 words: Clearest Thinking Year to Date

When Joseph Harvey and his partner Carrie Yu opened mainland China’s first zero-waste store in the 258 Electronics Market in January, they had no idea that their tenancy would be so short-lived. In fact, it was closed down soon afterward, and the couple were given just 10 days notice to get out. Despite the shock and financial loss, they wasted no time in securing their current Gulou Dongdajie address. “We signed the contract on the Friday night, threw a load of furniture in here, and the next day we said, ‘Right, we gotta start paying the rent,’ and opened up.”

While stressful, Harvey says that moments like this have pushed the couple to be more nimble and flexible, and motivated them to develop their online shop to give them more stability. Plus, he adds, when done well, online can actually be a greener way of shopping. “2018 has flown by,” Harvey laughs, and it’s not hard to see why. The couple were featured in a documentary by Pandaily which has accrued more than 1 million views on Facebook alone, and Yu was nominated for a British Chamber of Commerce award, for “inspiring others to live a green lifestyle.”

Yet, while Harvey admits that these moments were “very nice,” they believe that to really achieve their goals, they need to ignore distractions, and narrow their focus solely on getting their zero-waste products into the hands of consumers. To the horror of many Beijingers, this strategy goes as far as avoiding WeChat and redirecting business through email.

While far more people are taking positive steps towards fighting climate change, and conservation in general, Harvey warns that the battle is far from over. “Consumer culture is rising at such a pace here … I’m seeing way more plastic than before.” It seems The Bulk House and zero-waste awareness couldn’t have come at a better time.