Refill shops are the way to go eco-shopping.
Refill shops are rapidly emerging across the country, with larger supermarkets introducing ‘refill zones’ and small businesses opening their doors to offer a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to stock up at home. This way of shopping is becoming increasingly more accessible, and more popular with that.
Refill shops are stores that sell non-packaged goods, things like food, toiletries, and cleaning products. They ask shoppers to bring containers they already own and refill them as much as needed, charging by the weight.
Refill shopping comes with its benefits.
The biggest benefit is the food and packaging waste reduction. Choosing to reuse food containers lowers the usage of single use plastics. In addition, having the option to weigh out your items and only take as much as you need avoids food going to waste.
One example is that it can work out cheaper, businesses often offer discounts for those who bring their own containers. And when you shop at the supermarket, buying fancy packaged items can cost more.
Finally, your experience is personal. You can choose exactly what you want, and how much you need.
World Refill Day.
There is no better time to start visiting your local refill store. World Refill Day takes place on the 16th of June every year. In 2022, over 80 countries took part in the campaign, with 100 million people using the hashtag and 430,000 people using their refill app. World Refill Day has the aim to reduce single-use-plastics as a huge problem in the shopping industry is the overproduction and consumption of single-use plastic. Did you know about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations every year?
Reducing food waste comes hand-in-hand with this as buying from the supermarket only offers a set amount or weight of the items; often resulting in overstocking and household food waste. Choosing to shop at a refill shop gives you the option to only take what you need.
How can you start your Refill journey?
Find your local refill store. You can find your local refill store as well as single-use-plastic-free businesses on the Refill App
A few refill shops in County Durham:
- The little Refill shop in Seaham
- Earth Warriors in Darlington
- By The Weigh in Barnard Castle
- The Weigh To Shop in Framwellgate Moor
Another way to take part in the action is to sign our single use plastics pledge. And always remember to recycle appropriately.
