Little lifestyle changes
Zero waste shop family prepare to open new outlet in Prestwick
They brought the first zero waste shop to Ayrshire last year and now the team behind Lavemill Larder have set their sights on Prestwick.
Lavemill Larder’s new store at 64 Main Street, which opens on 4 November, is gearing up to replicate the success of the Troon branch, selling unpackaged goods and eco toiletries to shoppers who want to reduce their household waste and excess packaging.
Dry goods including cereals, nuts, grains and pastas, and lifestyle products like beeswax wraps and reusable coffee cups will be stocked in the new store, and you’ll also find local suppliers such as Mossgiel Milk and Bhaile Bread.
The team are big in supporting local suppliers who provide not only food. In store you’ll find popular Surya Luna soaps and shampoo bars from Kilmarnock, TCS Eco Sanitary towels from Irvine, Natural Wraps from Stevenston and ReWrap from Bowhouse Prison along with White Rabbit skincare in Dundonald.
Due to open in the next fortnight, the team behind Lavemill Larder are looking forward to expanding their zero waste message across Ayrshire.
Dentist Ainsley Coats runs Lavemill Larder with her husband Andrew Hunter and daughter Chloe Ness – and they can’t wait for the new Prestwick store to open.
Ainsley said: “We managed to keep the Troon store running through lockdown. If anything more customers were visiting the store and we’d heard of demand for a refillstyle shop in Prestwick via local Facebook groups. We feel our store fits in with the
independent shops of Prestwick and is really complementary to the other shops nearby such as local butchers, bakers and grocers.”
Many of us will have been inspired to try and live a more low- waste lifestyle, and with the current situation affecting us in so many ways, it really pays to shop for what you need and no more, helping you save cash in the long run.
Ainsley continued: “The amount of single- use plastic we’re going through now is phenomenal, so it’s good to set a goal to reduce it in other ways. It’s all about the journey to become zero waste.”
Ainsley and the team aren’t against plastic and say if you have plastic bags or tubs, use them to their full use.
Shopping in a zero waste store is also a great way to save money and lower your food waste as you’re only buying what you need.
“You don’t have to succumb to supermarket offers or having to buy more than you need. It allows you to try a new recipe and only pick up the measurements of the ingredients you need,” explained Ainsley.
It’s a more personal experience when you shop at Lavemill Larder. You’ll get to know Ainsley, Andrew and Chloe and they can help you to shop for only what you need, not what supermarket food packaging dictates.
It’s a gradual process to become low waste.
“Our tagline is do a little to help a lot,” said Ainsley. “Making small sustainable changes that you can incorporate into your daily life is the best way to start.”
You can visit the new Lavemill Larder store in Prestwick at 64 Main Street in the next few weeks. “We are also looking for other local eco crafters and makers in our Makers’ Market and anyone interested can contact us,” added Ainsley.
Visit www. lavemilllarder. co. uk or call Andrew on 07962207273 or Chloe on 07885796474.
The amount of single- use plastic we’re going through now is phenominal Ainsley Coats