Plastic-Free July: Where next?

Photo by Bozhin Karaivanov on Unsplash

While we are counting down the days until we can reopen our shop doors, we thought we would make a list of some of the amazing businesses and brands who provide the products we sell! In honour of #plasticfreejuly, this post will illustrate where to find these products whilst we’re closed. We try to work with as many local and student-owned businesses as possible and love meeting the people we collaborate with!

Of course, we always encourage using up products that you already have before purchasing a sustainable alternative – it’s better for waste reduction and your wallet! But for when you need to purchase your next eco-item, here are ten of our favourite tried and tested products:

 

1. Fairtrade organic coffee beans

The item our morning customers most value is probably our cups of coffee! Our Fairtrade organic coffee beans have multiple layers of goodness, starting from Cafe Femenino in Peru and roasted by Second City Coffee in Manchester. On top of this, our good friends on campus at Milk & Honey cafe allow us to use their delicious unique blend. When we are open, we sell tea and coffee with a range of plant milks – just remember to bring your reusable mug if you’re taking out!

2. Non-perishable food items

For most of our non-perishable food items, we buy in bulk, wholesale quantities from Suma. They are a wholefood cooperative who provide a large range of natural and responsibly-sourced products to businesses and communities throughout the UK. You’re likely to find Suma products in your local health food shop, often available in plastic-free or refillable packaging!

 

3. Plastic-free moisturiser

Into the bathroom, and our shelves provide it all! This year we delved into the world of plastic-free moisturisers with Ode & Fenn. A small family business that sprang from the idea of creating simple and skin-sensitive products that appealed to a wider range of customers than typical bathroom products. We stock the moisturiser jars but their online store has much more to offer!

 

4. Shampoo and conditioner bars

Shampoo and conditioner bars are certainly some of our most popular products. We stock these from Gruum, a Manchester-based brand focused on low-waste, cruelty-free UK methods and unisex products. They have a huge range of bars and products available with many great options for all kinds of skin and hair types.

 

 

5. Plastic-free deodorant

For plastic-free and aerosol-free deodorant, we love our Cacao Pow Deo Bars. They are organic, long-lasting, vegan-friendly and gentle on sensitive skin so work really well for a variety of skin types! Another great thing about Cacao Pow is that in store we participate in their great jar return scheme – if you have an empty Cacao Pow jar, simply drop it off with us in shop and we’ll send them off to be reused by the company. Another waste-reduction method!

 

6. Plastic-free toilet paper

For the essential bathroom needs, we love to promote Who Gives a Crap, a toilet roll and tissue brand whose loo rolls are 100% recycled, plastic-free and (importantly) very stylish! This fab company donates 50% of their profits to toilet-building projects for those without access to suitable sanitation.

 

7. Menstrual products

We stock Honour Your Flow’s organic washable pads, which come in a variety of sizes, shapes and fabrics to best suit the individual’s needs. They are handmade in the UK and made as ethically as possible! On their online store you can also find the Me Luna menstrual cups that we stock – these cups are available in various sizes and are made without latex or silicon, meaning that whatever your preferences, zero-waste alternatives exist to suit you!

 

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8. Washable face wipes

For make-up removing and face cleaning, we love our FaceUps. Handmade by one of our own volunteers Helena, these fab washable facewipes are made using 100% repurposed fabric and the proceeds go to Labour Behind the Label, a brilliant anti-sweatshop campaign working to support workers in the global garment industry. For more examples you can check them out on Instagram, and grab them instore when we re-open in September!

 

9. Ethical jewellery

When it comes to jewellery and fashion, we are really proud to stock some Electric Bazaar jewellery pieces. They are a local ethical fashion enterprise who focus on sustaining traditional handicrafts and supporting those they work with in the industry. They also create beautiful clothing pieces that honour South Asian heritage.

10. Recycled earrings

And finally, one of our stockists who has been with us since the beginning of the shop are Jewels by Vicki. Vicki hand-crafts earrings and jewellery using recycled products to promote sustainability within the fashion industry. While our shop is closed for summer you can check these great products out on Instagram!

 

 

These are just a handful of the waste-reducing products out there that could help turn your #plasticfreejuly from a trend to a lifestyle! However, it is important not to pressure yourself if you aren’t able to make every one of these swaps; everyone’s plastic-free journey is unique and equally important in the protection of our planet.

 

“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” - Anne Marie Bonneau

As always, check out our social media for zero-waste hints and tips as well as updates on the shop! If you have any questions on things we haven’t covered in our plastic-free July series then feel free to comment here, or get in touch via our Facebook or Instagram.