Great Harwood has had an eco friendly refill shop for over three years. In that time it has saved hundreds of thousands of pieces of plastic from ending up in landfill and the ocean. Due to the current owner's health, the shop will close and Great Harwood cannot afford to lose this shop. People who have already changed their shopping habits to a more eco friendly way would have to travel as far as Preston or Darwen to continue refilling their containers.
We wish to continue the work started by TurtleBee in the already established shop. The method of shopping involves customers bringing their empty containers and refilling them with anything from pasta and cereals to herbs, spices, sweet treats and cleaning products like laundry detergent, washing up liquid and shampoo. All cleaning products are natural, vegan and cruelty free. Large drums of products are returned to suppliers when empty to be refilled and sent out again creating a closed loop cycle and not creating any further waste.
What we'll deliver:
- A shop where you can buy food and cleaning products without plastic waste
- Education programmes in schools in the local area
- Workshops about reducing waste
Why it's a great idea:
The primary aim of the project is to continue provision for plastic free shopping in Great Harwood but the benefits of a shop like TurtleBee continue way beyong this.
First of all the volume of plastic saved by refilling is incredible. Currently, the shop saves over 1,000 pieces a month and this doesn't include the further thousands saved by encouraging customers to swap to reusable products rather than disposible. We could absolutely grow this figure with funding for the project.
With customers buying by weight, they are able to buy exactly the amount of a product that they need rather than a packet from the supermarket. This can help low income families to budget more easily, save money and also reduce food waste. It encourages a culture of mindful shopping rather than the fast paced profit-driven consumerism we are seeing nowadays.
By running programmes in local schools, we will be able to educate future generations to shop in a more eco friendly and ethical way.
Steps to get it done:
- Purchase shop fittings and stock
- Hire 2 x part time staff members
- Relaunch as community interest company
This is all about creating a culture of more ethical living: Shopping with thought for the environment and minfullness about quantity bought. Shopping at TurtleBee promotes healthier eating, cooking from scratch with wholefoods and incorporating more plant based nutrients into people's diets.
The education programmes help improve mental wellbeing by showing a solution to the problem of plastic pollution. Eco-anxiety is increasing. Refill shopping allows children and adults alike to take back some control and feel that they are making a difference.
