October’s Top Tip

This month………………………………… Find your nearest refill shop!

Autumn is here, and with it the seasonal need to fill the cupboards and organise the pantry (/kitchen storage). As food shopping has become an increasingly important part of our lives, the need to maximise our shop is greater than ever. Waste-free shops are becoming more and more abundant as an alternative to wasteful and expensive commercial food outlets and as a way to reduce household waste and carbon footprints. For a list of UK waste-free shops, check out this directory, though you may find ones near you online or in person not on this list, so keep your eyes peeled. Here’s why it might be time to swap the supermarket for the waste-free refills…

• Buy in bulk – Fill up on those store cupboard essentials that are always on the shopping list by filling up a big container which can last you much longer. Pasta, rice, lentils, flour, sugar and spices are all good options for buying bulk.
• Only buy what you need – Have a recipe for an ingredient but don’t want to buy a huge pack of it? Take a container that is the size you need and only purchase the amount you want, to reduce food waste.
• Use up containers – While you can go for the aesthetic and present your pasta in a jar, the most eco container is the one you already have! Be it takeaway boxes, tubberware or bottles, use the containers you already own to cut down on single-use plastic. Even hand wash, shampoo and oils can be refilled using bottles or dispensers.
• Shop local – Learn more about your food from behind the label. Some shops may stock local produce and nationally grown products, reducing air miles and carbon emissions. Great for children to see their food in its raw form and learn about different foods!
• Shelfie! – Does your kitchen look cluttered by lots of packaging? Get that organised look but storing your refills in their containers, cutting back on packaging waste and styling your kitchen too.

• Eco-credentials – Research your local refill shop and see what you could switch to. Refilling helps cut down on single-use plastic waste from packaging, food waste from too-big packs and supports sustainable businesses. You may find your local shop also stocks a few extra products such as more sustainable cosmetics and gifts for family and friends.

So this October choose to enjoy shopping more by refilling your containers and cupboards with delicious waste-free produce, and you might save some pennies and waste from landfill in the process. What will you cook today? 🍽