I am pleased that it seems to be getting slightly easier for other consumers to be able to do this without buying in the large bulk quantities that we do. Lately there have been a few plastic free - zero waste shops popping up around the country and we're now lucky enough to have one in our local city of Worcester.
As a family we ventured into the city for a rare shopping trip, my wife suggested we visit "Pack It In - Zero Waste Living". The shop has been open for about 8 months now and seems to be gaining popularity.
When we got there we were greeted warmly had a chat and a look around. I was impressed with the sheer range of things they offered. The shelves were filled with a huge range of beans, spices, flours, teas, herbs, nuts, dried fruit and pretty much any store cupboard ingredient you could think of.
The whole premise behind these shops is that you bring your own containers to fill up and in doing so save plastic waste going to landfill.
It's crazy how much waste families can produce with just a weeks worth of shopping so any reduction is a great thing.
We were on a family day out so hadn't brought our own containers. That said we still purchased a few things because no way could my younger daughter and I pass up on some freshly made peanut butter - made in a machine right in front of us! Can't wait to try it on some toast!
I was in love with all the containers they used to dispense the products. I could really do with some of those for here to store our bulk buy products (like oats and flour)
 |
| A warm welcome |
They also had a great range of non-food items like cleaning products and soaps. I certainly plan to go back in the future and change our cleaning stuff over to some of these, filling old bottles as we do.
I also brought some lemon grass soap - just because it reminded me so much of our honeymoon! I have only used bar soap to wash for the last 7 years or so, no separate shampoo for me, I just rub the soap into my hair! That said this might be a little nicer than the normal cheap soap I buy!
 |
| Spices and herbs |
Looking on their website they also do courses and workshops which sounds really interesting, I'll be looking out for them in the future to see what they offer.
I'm really pleased to see a shop like this local to where we live and I hope it does really well.
Are you taking any steps to reduce single use plastic waste?
Do you have a shop like this local to where you live? Do you use it?
Lucky bunny, nothing like that around here. I am changing back to bar soap to reduce plastic. I make our house cleaners and washing machine liquid. Reduces plastic, better for us and it stores in old milk containers.
ReplyDeleteI think the soap is so often over looked by peopel looking to reduce plastic. Well done on that count. There's so many I'm like to remove, so much of it on food though.
DeleteWhat a great shop, nothing similar here. I do use liquid soap, but in a mason jar with a metal pump. At both bathrooms and in the kitchen. Small start, but it's a start. I also use a lot of canning jars to pack my lunches - salads stay crisp for days in the fridge, plus the smaller ones are good size for fruits. I admit to keeping my flour in a well sealed plastic tub - over 5 years old now, so not tossing away each refill, just washing and scalding. I'm with you on the peanut butter - I never pass the "real thing" by.
ReplyDeleteThe mason jar with a pump sounds great. I like the idea of jars for lunches as well, that would work for my wife.
DeleteYou are very lucky, I would love a shop like that. Our local shops are good, both the bakery and butchers use paperbags, and our fruit and veg from our market on Wednesdays also have paper bags. I read somewhere it was better that millions of us recycle imperfect, than a few doing it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteLike I said I'm not sure how much I'll use it as I don't go to Worcester often. I need to start taking my container to the butchers to use.
DeleteWe have had bulk stores here for many, many years where you can bring your own containers. One chain has regular specials and coupons so you can get competitive prices with the big supermarkets. The big supermarkets have tons of bulk foods but are not at the point where you can bring your own container.
ReplyDeleteI'd love a better bulk store. I use the wholesalers here sometimes but never been impressed with it for price and you can't use your own containers.
DeleteI LOVE this idea! I have very few places to buy bulk like that. The few there are either have it already bagged or they want you to use their bags. Hopefully the concept will grow in popularity.
ReplyDeleteI hope it will as well. <y only worry is that supermarkets will catch on quickly and put them out of business but be doing it for fashion rather than principle.
DeleteThis is what I like to see. If only more businesses would do the same as you have shown here. I think change is afoot, so maybe things will improve more and more, we can only hope.
ReplyDeleteI think change seems to eb happening now. It's a good thing!
DeleteFodders in Hereford do a similar thing and have recently opened up a stall in the Buttermarket where you can refill empty detergent bottles and the like. And they have pulses, seeds nuts, etc.
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to go there as well but don't leave the village much! It was unusual for me to be in Worcester to be honest!
DeleteWe used to have a shop like this In Ipswich about 25 years ago - ahead of it's time, everything in bins with scoops. It closed after just a few years.
ReplyDeleteNothing as smart as your shop. Hope the idea spreads
I hope this shop does well and survives for a long time. The ethos behind it is sound.
Delete