Sustainable Shopping Goals

-

Our resident blogger Lucy Young @_Oceancityliving suggests some great local recommendations for eco-friendly shopping in Plymouth.

So 2021 started with more of a fizzle than a bang but nevertheless a new year often signals a new start; a time for serious resolutions or just a simple rethink, about your goals for the coming year and readdressing the way you’re living.

One of my own goals for 2021 is to continue my quest for more considered consumerism and to make some sustainable swaps in my home, beauty and lifestyle purchases to support local businesses but also to think about some greener choices for products that are ethical as well as kinder to the environment.

And it turns out I’m not alone. Having spent the majority of the last year living under lockdown or local restrictions you might think that everyone has opted for the ease of buying big online and ditching any eco-conscious principles in favour of cost and convenience.

In fact, recent research has shown that if anything, the coronavirus pandemic has made people take stock and think carefully about the purchases they’re making. There have been numerous reports and studies done which show that living with Covid-19 has actually helped to focus people’s minds on what’s important: spending more time with family and friends, enjoying the great outdoors, making healthy food choices and lockdown has been a time when people have reconnected with each other, nature and their local environment.

There has been a surge in shopping local and supporting both high street stores and independent businesses within the community, but also people becoming more ethically minded and environmentally conscious.

And luckily there are some great local companies that are offering sustainable, environmentally-friendly and more ethical products and services right here in Plymouth.

Zero-waste shop Jar on the Barbican’s Looe Street is like an Aladdin’s cave of sustainably-sourced products from dry goods to cleaning kit, toiletries to teabags and even offers a door-step delivery service.

The store itself, set up by Plymouth sisters Helen and Caroline last summer, is housed in the old Plymouth Arts Centre and, classed as an essential shop, has been open throughout lockdown. It provides covid-safe shopping; only allowing four customers in at one time, providing hand sanitiser at the door and asking customers and staff to wear face coverings. The concept of a zero-waste shop is that you take your own reusable containers to refill with everything from oats and pasta to laundry liquids and loose-leaf tea. You only buy what you need, weighing it before you check out, cutting back on unnecessary single use packaging.

But there are lots of other great things to buy for home and health including locally-made eco-friendly toiletries and amazing vegan cakes from Stoke coffee shop Cake Whole. Jar has also linked up with Good Earth Growers from St Mellion to provide quality, seasonal and locally grown veg boxes delivered by electric car across the city.

Also providing a zero-waste shopping experience is Earthkind Events, a fully-kitted out van that parks up on Plymstock’s Broadway shopping precinct once a week. Owner Naomi launched her refills on wheels service during lockdown last year and turned a regular vehicle into the gorgeous ‘Gertie’ who now resembles a traditional grocer’s van full of labelled jars of dry goods, healthy snacks, herbs and spices.

The proudly plastic-free shop-on-the-go visits the Broadway every Monday from 9am to 4pm, but Naomi also takes Gertie around the city for doorstep deliveries on Wednesdays. Customers can place their orders online and then leave out their containers to be taken away and refilled. This sustainable shopping service is a fantastic idea at any time to help reduce single-use plastic and move towards zero-waste, but particularly during the pandemic when many people are cautious about going out to shop in person.

Online eco-store The Mindful Hive also offers delivery of its selection of plastic and toxin free products and offers advice on sustainable swaps for body and home so you can switch and ditch less eco-friendly items.

The Mindful Hive was created by Plymouth-based couple Olivia and Jack who have turned their passion for leading a zero-waste lifestyle into a successful business after recommending products to friends and family. They saw first-hand the damage to the environment and marine life of single-use plastic whilst travelling in South East Asia and returned with a mission to remove as many toxic products from their lives and share some natural alternatives to improve not only your own life but that of the global environment.

Olivia is certainly a ‘hive’ of information and was so helpful when recommending and parcelling up a sustainable starter kit which was delivered to my door. Products included a great eco-friendly washing up brush, scourer and dish washing cube as well as locally made soap and a Beauty Kubes shampoo bar.

The Mindful Hive are currently offering free postage using GEDDONPLYMOUTH at checkout – don’t miss out!

Heyl Bakery is another launched-in-lockdown success story which is going from strength to strength. As the city’s first vegan bakery combining both sweet and savoury treats, owners Kate and Sam offer a 100 per cent plant based range of baked goods from naturally leavened sourdough loaves to cinnamon bun bostocks and chunky chocolate cookies. They are passionate about sustainability, aiming to reduce plastic use, minimise waste and support the South West community of food producers by sourcing as many ingredients as possible from local suppliers.

Heyl Bakery is housed in the old mortuary of the historic Devonport Guildhall but is currently offering a click and collect service. You can order your bakes online between Sunday and Wednesday for collection on a Friday between 11am and 1pm from Ocean Studios at Royal William Yard. Their signature sourdough Heyl Loaf is made using ancient grain flour that is grown and milled in South Devon and take it from me it’s absolutely delicious.

There are a growing number of local businesses offering sustainable shopping options here in Plymouth created by some fantastic people who have turned their passion into production. It’s becoming so much easier to shop more consciously and try and live low waste. Even small changes can add up to bigger ones and just a few sustainable swaps can make a big difference both locally and globally.

Check out the listings in the Find a Shop section on our site for lots more companies offering sustainable shopping or vegan food choices.

---

Funded by the Reopening High Street Safely Fund, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and HM Government