FAQs

To maximize your health & beauty + minimize your harm to others & our environment!

Mindful Inhabitant is an online shop providing you with everyday products that are vegan, organic, plastic free, & palm oil free with zero waste shipping.

We are different because we combine the values of vegan, organic, plastic free AND palm oil free!

Many shops provide products that adhere to one, or a few, of these values — but not all of them together.

We do so because we believe we should consume products that take into account all aspects of how the product affects our health, others, and the environment.

For example, a vegan product is ideal — because it avoids causing direct harm to animals. But is it organic — avoiding harm from synthetic pesticides and fertilizers? Is it plastic free — avoiding harm from plastic leaching and plastic pollution? Is it palm oil free — avoiding harm from deforestation and habitat destruction?

Thus, our combination of values is what sets our shop apart from others!

Because it is our goal to minimize harm to other sentient beings, the environment, and our health — we always ship 100% zero waste with recyclable or compostable materials.

We believe it is the responsibility of the business — not the consumer — to make sure all the materials they pass on can be responsibly disposed of without escaping to a landfill, landscape, or waterway and causing harm.

We use as little planetary resources as possible in our packaging — never adding extra packaging materials (ex: re-using supplier paper for void fill) unless it serves some necessary purpose.

In regards to our suppliers, many of them ship plastic free.

For our own Mindful Inhabitant products we create — some of the organic plant ingredients come packaged in plastic (cap, plastic wrapper around cap, etc.).

We do not know of any wholesale supplier that can ship 100% Vegan, Organic, and Palm Oil Free ingredients in a 100% Plastic Free way.

Thus, to take responsibility as a business and prevent any of the waste we accumulate from causing harm — we have teamed up with TerraCycle to send them all the materials we can't recycle locally.

Remember, the supply chain for many products is very long. The chances that the entire chain for any product being 100% plastic free — from resource extraction, to production, to ending up on store shelves or at your door — is very unlikely.

Therefore, we have to start somewhere. We are continually pushing our suppliers towards shipping to us with 100% plastic free packaging — and have already made progress on this end!

You will find everyday products in categories ranging from bath & shower to personal care to shopping to cleaning and more!

Our vision is to become a one-stop-shop to help you live a vegan, organic, plastic free, and palm oil free lifestyle.

We are are continually striving to improve and expand our shop collection — and we encourage you to let us know what you would like added to our shop!

No! We are a mix between retail and creating our own products.

The Endocrine Society recommends using unscented products in an attempt to minimize exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. Because of this, we've decided to only carry unscented products since we don't believe the small benefit from a scent is worth a serious risk to your health!

We believe the packaging materials used to ship a product are just as important as the materials or ingredients used to create the product itself!

That is why we ship with:

1. 100% recycled post-consumer and post-industrial shipping boxes that are recyclable and compostable ( no virgin fiber content ).

2. Renewable and Compostable Algae Ink on our shipping boxes.

3. Non-Reinforced, Water Activated Paper Tape that is compostable.

4. Zero Waste Direct Thermal Shipping Labels that require zero ink and are paper recyclable.

5. Recyclable and compostable paper that we have received from our suppliers and are re-using.

View our 'How We Ship' page at the bottom of our website for more information!

Because expedited shipping usually means that shipping carriers have to go out of their way — more so than if your package was consolidated with other packages that are scheduled to deliver in the same area.

Thus, expedited shipping tends to be less effective in keeping carbon emissions as low as possible.

And since we are striving to minimize our carbon emissions as much as possible — to stay in alignment with our ethic to minimize harm — we refrain from the convenience of expedited shipping.

We understand that this means you may have to wait longer for our packages than if you ordered from another shop. And we understand that this may mean customer dissatisfaction for some of you.

But we are willing to accept those consequences if that means running our business in alignment with our values.

But let's be honest. If you are shopping at Mindful Inhabitant, then you are most likely someone who values other sentient beings and the environment more than the pleasurable convenience of receiving your package in a day or two! ( only if you don't live near New York — which is where we are based currently ).

With a little extra planning on your part, you will still receive your products right when you need them! :)

All mainland U.S. orders over $40 qualify for free shipping.

All non-mainland U.S. ( Alaska, Hawaii, etc. ) and Canada orders over $200 qualify for free shipping.

All other international orders over $250 qualify for free shipping.

We advocate buying in bulk when possible to cut down on our carbon footprint!

Yes! We want to make it possible to live a Vegan, Organic, Plastic Free & Palm Oil Free lifestyle — no matter where you live or happened to have been born.

You will receive a shipping confirmation notice via email or text with a tracking number as soon as your order has shipped!

After your order is placed, my brother and I hand pick and pack it for you!

We strive to ship your order the same day it was placed through USPS.

We are based in upstate New York — so orders made from closer geographical areas will arrive quicker than order made from further areas.

But all orders should arrive within 3 to 10 business days. You should receive an email or text notification with a tracking number for your order!

First, confirm your order's shipping address is correct.

Second, check your 'USPS Tracking Number'.

Third, if there is a problem with the 'Status' of your order under the 'USPS Tracking Number' — then contact us to find solution for you.

We determine an order lost if it has not arrived within 15 business days after the order was shipped.

If it is lost, then contact us to find solution for you!

We do not accept returns.

Why?

Because every return causes harmful consequences — more shipping materials and more fossil fuel use which releases more emissions into the atmosphere — contributing to climate change and air pollution.

Thus, we advocate mindful consumption.

In other words, take the time to fully research and reflect on a particular product before purchasing.

Of course, it is on us if the product is damaged — and you should contact us immediately so we can find solution for you!

We do not refund or cancel orders once they are placed.

Why?

Because we advocate mindful consumerism — that is, fully researching and reflecting on whether you really need a product before purchasing.

However, it's a different story if there is a problem with the products you receive! If that's the case, please contact us and we will figure out a solution for you.

We address each problem on a case-by-case scenario.

Do you have a product that is:

— Vegan

— Organic

— Plastic Free

— Palm Oil Free

— Packaged & Shipped Plastic Free & Zero Waste?

If so, then we may be looking to work with you!

You can contact us via email at connorboyd@mindfulinhabitant.com and include ALL of the following:

1. Company Name
2. Contact Information
3. Name
4. Email Address
5. Phone Number
6. Website
7. Company Location
8. Social Media Pages
9. A brief description of your company and why you want to work with Mindful Inhabitant.
10. Where are your products manufactured?
11. What products do you wish to bring into Mindful Inhabitant?
12. Can your product come without packaging? If not, what packaging does your product come in?

Thank you. We are honored and grateful that you're considering working with us! :)

We aim to answer all customer questions on this 'Questions & Answers' page.

But if we have not addressed your specific question — then you can contact us by one of the following ways:

1. Email at connorboyd@mindfulinhabitant.com
2. DM our Instagram account @mindfulinhabitant
3. Text at +1 (585) 880-8244

Thank you so much for your support, we look forward to hearing from you! :)