Recent data from The Big Plastic Count has shown that each UK household throws away 60 pieces of plastic packaging weekly, amounting to an estimated 1.7 billion pieces of plastic nationally every week.
As increasing levels of single-use plastics end up in landfill, a gap in the market has opened for the rise of zero-waste, sustainable grocery stores.
Refill Therapy in Hackney and The Source Bulk Foods in Crouch End are just two of the stores promoting sustainable grocery shopping and fighting back against single use plastics.
Alpesh Patel, Refill Therapy co-owner, said: “If you refill your products, you can reduce the amount of food waste you have, because when you buy something in a packet you might not need all of it.
“Whereas, if you come in and refill a dry good, then you only buy what you need.”
Both stores have highlighted a strong need for the government to provide more support to zero-waste sustainable businesses.
Camilla, The Source Bulk Food Crouch End Deputy Manager, said: “There are a lot of hidden costs to food production in terms of the environment.
“Bigger chains and conventional shops offload these onto the environment, whilst sustainable shops absorb the costs.
“We feel at the moment there should be more support for sustainable businesses because customers shouldn’t feel the weight of making sustainable choices beyond their shoulders.”
Watch the video below to hear more.
All images courtesy of: Ellie Gelber.
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