Impakter
  • News
    • Culture
      • Art
      • Cinema
      • Entertainment
      • Literature
      • Music
      • Photography
    • Style
      • Architecture
      • Design
      • Fashion
      • Foodscape
      • Lifestyle
    • Society
      • Business
      • Foreign Affairs & Politics
      • Health
      • Tech
      • Science
      • Start-up
    • Impact
      • Eco Life
      • Circular Economy
      • COP26
      • CityLife
        • Copenhagen
        • San Francisco
        • Seattle
        • Sydney
      • Sustainability Series
        • SDGs Series
        • Shape Your Future
        • 2030: Dream or Reality
      • Philanthropy
        • United Nations
        • NGO & Charities
        • Essays
  • Environment
  • Sustainability Index
  • Partners
  • About
    • Team
      • Global Leaders
      • Contributors
      • Write for Impakter
        • Republishing Content
        • Permissions and Copyright
        • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Culture
      • Art
      • Cinema
      • Entertainment
      • Literature
      • Music
      • Photography
    • Style
      • Architecture
      • Design
      • Fashion
      • Foodscape
      • Lifestyle
    • Society
      • Business
      • Foreign Affairs & Politics
      • Health
      • Tech
      • Science
      • Start-up
    • Impact
      • Eco Life
      • Circular Economy
      • COP26
      • CityLife
        • Copenhagen
        • San Francisco
        • Seattle
        • Sydney
      • Sustainability Series
        • SDGs Series
        • Shape Your Future
        • 2030: Dream or Reality
      • Philanthropy
        • United Nations
        • NGO & Charities
        • Essays
  • Environment
  • Sustainability Index
  • Partners
  • About
    • Team
      • Global Leaders
      • Contributors
      • Write for Impakter
        • Republishing Content
        • Permissions and Copyright
        • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Impakter
No Result
View All Result
Home CityLife

The Rise of Zero-waste Shops

What would shopping at a zero-waste store look like?

bySadie Baker-Wacks
December 30, 2021
in CityLife, Eco Life
Crates of fruits and vegetables. Credit: Canva

Crates of fruits and vegetables. Credit: Canva

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Recently, I came across the zero-waste store Salt of The Earth. My discovery had come at an opportune time, following a chat with my flatmate about the number of plastic milk containers that we were going through during the lock-down. We were reminiscing from childhood days about the little glass bottles of milk that would miraculously turn up on our doorstep each morning, to be returned there empty each night.

Salt of the Earth Store, Broadstairs, Kent

Passing Salt of the Earth with this conversation still fresh in my brain made me do an u-turn. Whilst I had come across a few small refill shops in London, it had been a couple of years back, and their range was limited to grains and pulses.

Today  Zero-Waste, or Refill, Stores are becoming more popular and prevalent, expanding the range of products available for customers. Even large supermarket chains are starting to jump on the bandwagon. In January, it was reported that Asda had intended to open a ‘sustainability store’ in May 2020 (unfortunately stalled by the COVID—19 pandemic), and there are more recent reports of Tesco and Loop trialing a refill service as well.

Ecover refill station in Balham, Kake

But for those looking to shop more sustainably while supporting local businesses, there may now be a zero-waste shop close to you — and for those in the UK, if nothing comes up on your google search, you can find guides for how to find these stores online, such as this general directory and this list of best-rated stores in the UK.

In Salt of The Earth it was nostalgic, and good news for my waste footprint, to see that not only were the old, glass milk pint bottles I’d remembered available — to be brought back and refilled! – but also that almond milk and coconut milk were also being sold fresh in glass reusable containers, along with a variety of grains, pulses, oats, bread, detergents, beauty products, and now, even locally made and washable Face Masks.

 

A selection of Fresh Milk and Bread available at the Salt of the Earth Store, Broadstairs, Kent.

It may just be a couple of items that you manage to switch over to, but a little goes a long way. Supporting local businesses also supports a change in your community’s mindsets and practices regarding sustainability and waste reduction – this could lead to a chain reaction, where neighboring businesses may also be inspired and motivated to make small changes, responding to the attitudes of customers.

To ‘best practice’ your zero-waste shopping endeavor, be sure to use and reuse your containers and bags! You are able to buy reusable containers in zero-waste stores — but if you already have the suitable containers at hand you are one step ahead!  For more tips on reducing kitchen waste, read this article.

 

Buying Pasta Plastic Free at the Refilling Station in Harrogate

Aiming for local shops, if possible, will reduce transport emissions and travel costs. For your products and produce sourced from elsewhere, there are still ways to practice being more sustainable, by reducing your meat consumption, buying foods that are seasonal and grown locally, and looking out for which food brand items are available in non-plastic packaging. For more details, check out this article here.

 

Directory as of 2019 October

https://www.saltoftheearthbroadstairs.co.uk/


Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by Impakter.com columnists are their own, not those of Impakter.com. — In the Featured Photo: Crates of fruit and vegetables. Featured Photo Credit: Canva.

Tags: grocery shoppingsustainable food systemszero waste
Previous Post

Big Tech Workers Joining The Digital Adventure Of Web3

Next Post

Oscars Spotlight: 2022 Shortlists Announced 

Sadie Baker-Wacks

Sadie Baker-Wacks

Sadie Baker-Wacks is an editorial assistant and community manager intern at Impakter, currently based in Portland, Oregon. She Graduated from Reed College in 2020 with a B.A. in philosophy. She is very interested in consumerism from an environmental and moral standpoint and wrote her undergraduate thesis on virtue ethics and consumerism. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outside, reading, and seeing live music (when possible)!

Related Posts

Green and blue markers
Eco Life

Greenwashing Warning Signs: How to Spot Them

January 31, 2023
Patagonia vs The North Face Sustainability
Eco Life

Sustainability Battle of Brands: Patagonia vs The North Face

January 30, 2023
A woman drinking from a Starbucks cup.
Eco Life

Is Starbucks Sustainable?

January 17, 2023
Next Post
Oscars Spotlight: 2022 Shortlists Announced 

Oscars Spotlight: 2022 Shortlists Announced 

Recent News

Clean Energy More Cost-Effective in the US Than Coal, Study Finds

Clean Energy More Cost-Effective in the US Than Coal, Study Finds

February 6, 2023
A densely packed urban area in Athens, Greece at sunset

Do We Need to Sacrifice Our 1.5 °C Goal to End Poverty?

February 6, 2023
Biohacking: The Latest Health Craze, Health Hazard or Biowarfare?

Biohacking: The Latest Health Craze, Health Hazard or Biowarfare?

February 5, 2023
impakter-logo-light

Impakter informs you through the eco news site and empowers your sustainable lifestyle with its eco products marketplace.

Visit here IMPAKTER ECO for your eco products needs.

Registered Office Address

32 Lots Road, London
SW10 0QJ, United Kingdom


IMPAKTER Limited

Company number: 10806931

Impakter is a publication that is identified by the following International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is the following 2515-9569 (Printed) and 2515-9577 (online – Website).


Office Hours - Monday to Friday

9.30am - 5.00pm CEST


Email

stories [at] impakter.com

About Us

  • Team
  • Contributors
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Partners

By Audience

  • Lifestyle
  • Green Finance
  • Culture
  • Society
  • Style
  • Impact

Impakter Platforms

  • Media
  • Index

© 2023 IMPAKTER. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • ECO Products Shop – Try now!
  • Culture
  • Style
  • Society
  • Impact
  • Sustainability Index
  • About
    • Partners
    • Team
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

© 2023 IMPAKTER. All rights reserved.

Impakter.com uses cookies to enhance your experience when visiting the website and to serve you with advertisements that might interest you. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.