Shop more sustainably to support zero waste from, 2nd to 6th September by visiting one of the many organic produce shops that Manchester has to offer.
Each year, the UK generates more than two million metric tonnes of plastic packaging waste; zero waste shops are helping to cut down on this shocking statistic. Selling products that aren’t individually wrapped, all the excess cardboard and plastic that would usually come home from a shopping trip and potentially not be recycled, is swapped for your own repurposed containers.
Shopping zero waste not only helps wildlife, natural resources, and keeping the planet tidy, it also encourages mindful consumption to support a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle, and where better to start than at home. Here’s our pick of some places to go.
One Small Step | Altrincham
Nestled in Altrincham Market you’ll find One Small Step. Rachael Wong launched the shop in 2019 after she saw the damaging effect plastic pollution is having on our environment first hand when travelling around Asia. Rachael founded One Small Step to help the local community realise how easy a zero-waste lifestyle can be. At One Small Step you’ll find a wide variety of pantry staples, including pastas, grains, and cereals as well as cleaning and personal hygiene products.
On Instagram @onesmallstep.uk
Tarn Replenished | Milnrow
You’ll find a wide variety of refillable products at Tarn Replenished out in Milnrow, including laundry liquids, bathroom and kitchen cleaners, haircare, handwash, and sanitisers. Not only this, but it also offers a range of sustainable gift ideas with everything from vegan and fairtrade chocolate to cards made from recycled materials, such as cotton from the fashion industry, tea leaves that don’t make the grade, and seed paper that grows when planted.
On Instagram @tarnreplenished
Village Greens | Prestwich
Village Greens first opened its doors in 2014 and along with its founders, Prestwich and surrounding area’s local community brought the idea to life and generated the investment required to create the shop. It has an extensive range of vegan, organic, gluten free, and healthy refillable products, as well as sustainable ranges of home and healthcare goods. It also has weekly deliveries of the freshest and most organic produce from local areas such as breads, fruit and veg, dairy products, and cakes.
Village-greens-coop.co.uk
Eighth Day | City Centre
A staple part of Manchester’s sustainability community since 1970, Eighth Day on Oxford Road has been delivering more sustainable options to the city for over 50 years. Today, not only can you find a huge range of refillable items, vegetarian and vegan ingredients, and ethically sourced products, but there’s also a plant-based café that provides a variety of nourishing meals, tasty snacks, and drink options. The team boasts a qualified nutritionist and multiple team members who are genuinely passionate about the ethics of eco- friendly lifestyles, making Eighth Day a one stop shop for all your sustainable needs.
Are your eco-friendly products as environmentally friendly as you think? Here’s a list of so-called sustainable items that are often guilty of greenwashing.
Tote bags
Cotton bags require more materials and energy for creation than a plastic shopping bag so for a cotton bag to be more eco-friendly than a plastic one, it’d need to be used 173 times. As long as you don’t hoard tote bags and use the same one regularly, you’re still helping out the planet.
Coffee cups
Most single use cups from coffee chains are labelled as recyclable but most end up in landfill because they’re made from plastic coated paper which won’t break down in recycling plants.
To solve this, just take a reusable cup next time you’re getting your caffeine fix!
Bamboo products
Bamboo is popular because of its sustainable qualities as it grows quickly and the whole plant can be used. However, a lot of this changes during the production stage when turned into fibre through chemical processes that can waste up to 70% of the tree. Look for products with a bamboo lyocell label as these products are made free of chemicals and toxic solutions.