By Izzy Cabanas, Guest Writer

If you’re looking for a way to be eco-friendly, there is an easily accessible method via the Cincinnati Metro, Cincinnati’s vibrant downtown is filled with small businesses that find creative ways to practice sustainability. 

Affordable art supplies are located in OTR, Indigo Hippo, a small creative reuse center filled with various second hand art materials. Operated under a “sliding-scale pay” system, customers can find practically any type of art material at an affordable price. There are different types of fabric, sewing supplies, patterns, tools, magazines, office supplies and more–amounting to thousands of materials saved from landfills. 

Their aim is to “inspire possibility,” executive director, Emily Dake said. 

Dake explained that the more creative people can be with their materials, the more they keep materials out of the waste stream. Dake, a mixed media sculptor who earned her BFA from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning(DAAP) and, said that she is often surprised and inspired by the ways simple materials such as paper clips are transformed into art. 

Dake and the storefront manager, Abby Kacen, are the only full-time employees running Indigo Hippo alongside with a small team of part-time employees and volunteers. Since its creation in 2016, this small team has worked with local organizations to reduce waste and provide creative access to the community. They’ve hosted galleries and events and supplied local creative organizations with materials for their programs. 

This year, they have partnered with ArtsWave, a local art institution, to host a program called Material Play. “Material Play is a free, once-a-month workshop series for youth ages 10-18 hosted at the @/woodwardtheater” they said on their Instagram. Taking place this past summer and fall, participants are learning from local artists while using upcycled materials provided by Indigo Hippo. Other upcoming events include a gallery show featuring the botanical embroidery of a local artist Ciara LeRoy on Oct. 4 and their annual fundraiser “ReMade” where they are auctioning off art from local artists on Dec. 4.

For home and wellness projects, Simply Zero, also located in OTR, sells a variety of sustainable products from home and cleaning to personal care and wellness. Their website offers detailed information about each of their products, from the specific ingredients to their biodegradability. They also offer refills for a variety of their products, so customers can prevent waste by refilling old containers. 

According to their website, Rachel Felous created Simply Zero in 2017 in the form of a “personal Instagram feed documenting her daily journey toward a zero-waste life. It’s grown a lot since then. Today, Simply Zero is a lifestyle shop, zero waste refillery and community.” They go on to state that their mission is “to empower and equip conscious individuals seeking to live a life that’s good for themselves, humankind and the planet.”