The Zero Waste Stores In London You Need To Know
(In Partnership with In Good Company)
It’s rare that you walk down the road nowadays without seeing at least one piece of plastic lying discarded in the street. That kind of plastic pollution is highly visible, but there’s a much bigger invisible problem. Because even when that bottle or packet is put in the bin, it doesn’t disappear.
Did you know that a single-use plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to decompose? Or that the UK litters around 700,000 plastic bottles daily?
It may seem like plastic is unavoidable in today’s world, but there are some really simple steps you can take to cut back. And our absolute favourite one is giving zero-waste shopping a go!
Read on to find out more about what zero-waste (also known as refill) shops are all about, what to expect on your first trip and a round-up of some of the best zero-waste stores in London.
So, What Exactly Are Zero Waste Shops?
These usually independent stores sell unpackaged products ranging from pantry cupboard staples and sweets to personal care items and cleaning supplies. Customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable containers and refill them from the store’s bulk containers, making it an ideal destination for anyone looking to live a bit more consciously.
In recent years, the trend towards zero-waste shopping has grown in popularity, as more people look for ways to live more sustainably.
What Do They Sell?
Each zero-waste store is a bit different, but generally, you can expect to find goods such as:
Cupboard staples – pasta, rice, oats, lentils, nuts, seeds, cereals
Sweet treats – chocolate, sweets, crisps
Dried fruits – dates, dried apricots, figs, coconut chips
Spices and herbs
Cleaning products – laundry detergent, washing up liquid and bathroom cleaners
Toiletries – toothpaste, bamboo toothbrushes, soap and shampoo
Isn’t It More Expensive Than Just Going To The Grocery Store?
In our opinion, this is a bit of a myth. There are plenty of products which are actually much cheaper than you’ll find in most supermarkets – spices and herbs for example. Most of the products zero-waste stores stock are organic, fair trade or made more sustainably with natural ingredients and the price you pay for them is usually in line with the equivalent price for that quality in a supermarket.
FInally, as well as being better for the planet, the other significant benefit is you can choose the exact amount you want to buy, leading to less waste and keeping more pennies in your pocket!
How To Use Zero-Waste Shops
If it’s your first time visiting a refill shop, you might feel intimidated or unsure about navigating the store. But don’t worry! The staff are used to helping and will be happy to answer any questions you
have. And we’ve also pulled together this quick guide to set you for your zero-waste shopping experience.
- Before leaving your house, make a list of the items you need.
- Think about how much you’re going to need and bring the right-sized reusable containers. Your containers can be Tupperware, empty cereal boxes, jars, biscuit tins, old bottles, and more – whatever you have to hand. Some shops also offer containers to borrow or purchase, so you don’t have to worry if you forget to bring one. Every one we’ve been to also has paper bags available too!
- When you arrive, weigh each of your containers on the provided scales. The store will either print a label with the weight of each container, or you need to note it down yourself. This ensures you’ll only pay for the products you buy!
- Fill with the products you want to use, either by using the scoopers or funnels they provide.
- Finally, take your filled containers to the till to pay. In some shops you might weigh the filled containers first, and print price labels for each product. But the staff will direct you if you’re unsure!
Count Me In! Where Can I Find One?
There’s a whole range of different zero waste stores all across London, mainly in more of the residential areas, including:
Locations: Stratford, Hackney Wick
Refill Therapy is very friendly and helpful, and if you’re a bit unsure about what exactly you should be doing, they will walk you through all the steps. On our last visit we even got to make our own peanut butter – no oils, no nothing added, just nuts! As well as all the things you need to restock in containers for your kitchen and home, they tend to sell other eco household and personal care bits and pieces. So even if you’ve not got an empty container to hand, go in and check them out.
Location: Fish Island in Hackney Wick
A consciously curated one-stop-shop and bar opened by a local husband and wife team in Hackney Wick. With a sustainably led ethos, they offer ethically sourced meat, British seasonal produce, household refills, natural wines, craft beers and Ozone coffee.
Locations: Richmond, Putney, Chiswick, Battersea, West Hampstead, Crouch End
With over 500 bulk food and lifestyle products, they offer an eco-friendly alternative to conventional shopping, making it easy to embrace a greener lifestyle. Their shelves are filled with a variety of goodies from vegan, paleo, dairy-free and gluten-friendly foods.
But Source goes beyond just food. They are on a mission to make a positive impact both locally and globally. By supporting various organisations and charities, they are working towards a cleaner and greener world. Plus, every £1 spent earns you 3% back in rewards with Source Rewards, making your eco-friendly choices even more rewarding.
Location: Hackney
A social enterprise zero-waste refill store supported by volunteers, based at the lovely Hackney City Farm. Their aim is simple: to provide fairly priced, high quality, tasty, ethical food made by small producers. Get Loose uses its profits to fund community based projects. They also operate a jar bank if you don’t have any liquid containers to refill.
Location: Stoke Newington, Herne Hill
Jarr provides a range of products from toiletries and cleaning supplies to grains and cereals. They aim to reduce unnecessary packaging by buying in bulk and selling items without packaging. With any leftover packaging, Jarr will either recycle this or send it back to manufacturers (via electric vans) so that it can be reused. Jarr was a finalist in Blue Path, a social impact award, in 2020. They are also a Living Wage Employer.
Location: Peckham
Gather is an organic refillery and store for low-impact living. Founded by Tash after her own journey into learning how to live more sustainably, Gather is on a mission to help make it easier for the rest of us.
It’s a beautiful store just 5 minutes walk from Peckham Rye station which sells all the refills you could want, from food and spices to cleaning products and toiletries.
Location: Greenwich
Art of Zero Living is a unique essential refill shop for high-quality, sustainable, organic food and non-food products in the historic Greenwich area. It is run by a young professional family of three who are passionate about leading a healthy, sustainable and plastic free lifestyle. You’ll find them inside the beautiful Greenwich Market.
Location: Holloway
Founder Jordan began a new career as a zero waste shop owner, opening Kilo in Holloway in 2020. Kilo source and sell products in bulk or without disposable packaging and, where possible, they come from local producers or fair-trade suppliers. She’s often helped out in the store by her mum Emma!
Whether it’s for a breakfast meeting, catch up over coffee, or dinner and drinks with the girls, then ditch the countless chains and instead find somewhere ethical, sustainable, independent and actually good with the brand new In Good Company app.
With over 600 places in London – from coffee shops and restaurants to sustainable fashion boutiques and salons – with more added each week, you can find the perfect feel-good, guilt-free spot at the tap of a button. Download for free on iOS and Android now.
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