Where to find your local zero waste shop

Always wanted to shop zero waste? Our easy guide to finding your nearest plastic-free shop

Table in a shop with glass jars containing various items such as ginger and mustard seeds

It’s easy and convenient to simply pop over to the nearest Tesco or Sainsbury’s whenever you run out of any essentials, like food, washing up liquid, etc. But however much these large names try, there’s always something holding them back from fully committing to selling their products without plastic packaging. Sure, small steps are taken that get that brand talked about in the news, but there are many independent shops across the UK that dedicate themselves to zero-waste shopping:

Locavoe, Glasgow

Containers containing loose nuts for customers to access — If you’re a connoisseur of loose foods, you’ll love this place!
Credit: Locavoe

Established in 2011, Locavoe is a zero-waste shop that stocks loose items like nuts and dried fruits, as well as refills of Bio-D cleaning products. The majority of their products from one of their local farms. With a café on site and a vegetable delivery service, it’s one of the places in Scotland that shows plastic-free shopping is possible.

Unwrapped, Sheffield

Although only opened in 2017, this shop in Crookes, Sheffield has already progressed with their battle against plastic packaging as their team continues to expand and more people know about their products. One of Unwrapped‘s unique qualities is the offer to grind your own peanut butter, as well as selling non-food items like cloth sanitary pads, reusable straws, and so much more to make that plastic-free life a little easier.

The Clean Kilo, Birmingham

A shop containing various dispensers of nuts, sweets, cereals and chocolate, as well as natural produce such as vegetables — Everything is ready to go into customer’s containers
Credit: The Clean Kilo

The largest zero-waste supermarket in the UK, The Clean Kilo encourages visitors to bring their own containers instead of unnecessary plastic packaging. Their products include cereals, different types of chocolate, including vegan, various types of flour, and even kombucha. Reasonably priced, the Midlands have the perfect plastic-free location in the heart of the area.

Natural Weigh, Crickhowell, Dinas Powys

Another shop with various dispensers for pulses, pasta, baking products etc — Clearly labeled items so that customers can easily find what they need
Credit: Natural Weigh

Another zero-waste shop that encourages bringing and weighing your own containers, this is the first in Wales, and encourages a flexible and environmentally-friendly experience. Included in the products sold here are bamboo cutlery, lunchboxes, and coffee cups. Natural Weigh also provides nuts, oils, and even vegan marshmallows to help make your weekly shop guilt and plastic-free.
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Hetu, London

A woman shopping in a plastic-free shop, with several dispensers in front of her — There is so much more choice than many people realise
Credit: Hetu

Hindu for “purpose”, Hetu is a vegan zero waste shop located in St Johns’ Hill in that offers whole foods in bulk and sustainable reusable items. Not only do they promote the plastic-free lifestyle with their products, but also promoting products that don’t use palm oil. They also stock shampoo bars and body butters as stocking the liquid versions would go against their ethos. Try not to miss out on a visit here during your next trip to London.
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