Coolangatta’s ‘Sourceful’ Zero-Waste Market is Quietly Changing How the Gold Coast Shops

On a sunlit Saturday morning, a queue snakes past the corner of Griffith and Warner Streets outside Sourceful, Coolangatta’s only dedicated zero-waste refillery and market. Since opening their doors last November, co-founders Tessa Millar and Jo Chan have watched their customer base double, quietly transforming how southern Gold Coasters restock their pantries – and attracting emulation from retailers in Surfers Paradise and beyond.

A Changing Tide in Local Retail

This push couldn’t come at a more pivotal moment for the city. Gold Coast City Council says rates of household waste have climbed by nearly 8% since 2022, with single-use packaging accounting for a chunk of the 200,000+ tonnes sent to landfill in the last financial year. State and national efforts to ease the load are proving slow, prompting a groundswell of local entrepreneurs searching for nimble alternatives. In a precinct marked by cafes and surf stores, Sourceful’s success points to growing appetite for sustainable business models that resonate with cost-conscious, climate-aware locals.

Sourceful’s retail floor is a far cry from a traditional grocer. Shelves are lined with bulk dry goods, oils, and spices. Customers bring their own containers and fill them using gravity dispensers. The store’s popularity is feeding into the city’s broader strategy on waste reduction: it was shortlisted by City of Gold Coast’s Startup Precinct program for its Entrepreneurship Innovation Award in May. Already, city planners are watching how Sourceful’s model could scale to hubs at Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads, where commercial waste also runs high.

Numbers Reveal New Priorities

Local statistics back up the trend. According to the council’s most recent sustainability survey released in March, 51% of Gold Coast households said they would pay a premium for sustainably sourced groceries. At Sourceful, the average shop totals $38 – slightly more than nearby supermarkets – but co-founder Millar explains that cost per unit is often lower once customers re-use packaging. Sales of refillable household cleaners, in particular, have risen 35% each quarter since launch, data from the business showed this week. Across the city, compostable packaging sales grew by 12% at local supplier GreenHarbour across the 2025-26 financial year.

For local families hoping to make the switch, Sourceful encourages newcomers to start small – bringing just a single jar for oats or coffee, and joining a fortnightly workshop at the shop (next session: July 13). Pop-up stalls are planned at Miami Marketta and The Village Markets in Burleigh this winter, aiming to demystify waste-free shopping for residents across the Gold Coast. The council, meanwhile, will review its waste strategy in August, with community consultation now open via the Surfers Paradise Services Centre. Sourceful’s early wins suggest smarter retail models can thrive, shaping not just shopping baskets but city policy – one refill at a time.