More Omahans are beginning to prioritize sustainability, both for their long term health and for the environment. And this Omaha shop is here to help.
Exist Green is all about promoting sustainability in Omaha, helping customers reduce their footprint and cut petrochemicals from everyday products. The shop sells food and pantry items, including local produce, organic dried goods and spices, and nuts and seeds, alongside sustainable swaps such as shampoo, hand soap, and toothpaste to clean up daily routines.
This Dundee establishment is very transparent about everything that’s in its products, allowing customers to make informed decisions about the impact they’re having on the world around them.
Owner Leigh Neary was an environmental engineer for more than 10 years before opening Exist Green. While she saw value in helping clean up ecological messes, she wanted to be more preventative. So she opened Exist Green in 2019 with the hopes of helping Omaha create a more sustainable future and helping customers understand the impact their buying decisions can have.
It’s a mission she’s so passionate about that, to her, the education means more than money.
“It’s weird being a shop owner and saying I don’t need people to buy,” Neary said. “But I do want the shop to be a museum-like experience where you can have that ‘aha’ moment. Like, ‘I didn’t realize most floss was coated in a forever chemical like teflon’, or most floss is made with plastic.
“People don’t really think about that and might not be ready to buy. They might not be ready to switch their floss for 10-20 years. But it’s something that might come up in conversation amongst family members. Honestly, that’s my passion.”
That focus on Omaha sustainability extends to the packaging Exist Green uses for its good. Exist Green has a mission to reduce plastic, so the shop provides recycled, deep-cleaned glass bottles for customers to fill with soap, essential oils, organic grains, and other purchases. Customers can donate glass bottles to the store, or bring in their own to earn a discount.
Many customers enter the store simply looking to shop, not make Omaha more sustainable. But as they peruse the story, Neary often sees a shift in their mindsets, and she and her staff are happy to help facilitate the education.
“I love teaching people how to reduce waste through osmosis, “Neary said. “They come in and they might just want a dozen eggs or some of our fresh ground spices. Because they chose to shop here, they are sort of forced to go with our glass, plastic-free concept. With that lightbulb shift in their mind, they get excited in the concept itself. Instead of telling people, ‘You need to reduce your waste,’ we provide that as an option. It’s kind of exciting.”
It’s especially fulfilling for Neary to see teens and kids come into Exist Green. She’s noticed the younger generations are placing a higher priority on Omaha’s sustainability efforts, and she hopes her shop continues to push that movement.
“I love seeing kids come in and they get excited,” Neary said. “That generation is all about this and that gives me a lot of hope for the future.”
