Zero waste initiative will help combat climate crisis
Pop-up shop has community benefits to go
A cafe in Perth city centre will soon be the place to go to refill shampoo bottles and grab zero waste supplies.
In a perfect coming together of two social enterprise organisations Giraffe Trading and Perth Community Farm - The Zero Waste Pop-Up Shop on Mill Street is pooling enthusiasm, premises and personnel.
The shop in Mill Street Cafe - which has not been trading for a few months and has been used instead for volunteer and staff training - starts regular opening hours as a hub for all manner of sustainable lifestyle choices on Saturday, February 1.
The grand opening will see people filling jars, plastic tubs and bags with food supplies.
As well as sampling zero waste snacks, chancing the raffle and refilling detergent or liquid soap bottles, visitors can browse the range of zero waste bathroom and kitchen supplies.
Perth Community Farm’s orange mascot ‘Carrot MacKay’ will be making an appearance and there will be activities for kids and free popcorn.
Craig Burnett, founder of Perth Community Farm, is delighted to have forged a partnership with Gareth Ruddock, chief executive officer for Giraffe Trading.
“I have been chatting to Gareth for some time about the possibility of working together,” said Craig.
“There’s a hunger locally for solutions for how to encourage zero waste and this way, it benefits both our not-for-profit enterprises.
“Lindsey Thompson is our brilliant volunteer manager fronting the shop.
“In the first instance we will be open fortnightly on the first and third Saturday of the month and weekly on a Monday during the day and Thursday evenings. We are looking for more volunteers to help us run the shop on other days, so please contact us if you can give some time.”
Gareth told the PA: “Craig at the community farm has been doing similar work to us. I could just see how many benefits there would be by working together.
“Giraffe has a building opposite the cinema, a secured unit, a working cafe set-up, all insured.
We always wanted that building working 24/7.
“Recently it was decided the cafe in Mill Street wasn’t bringing in enough money to keep it open to the public, so it has been used to give training to our staff.
“It will be great to have it used by the public again.
“The new zero waste shop will supply bulk items, eco-friendly items like reusable straws and safe cleaning products, plus all the amazing shampoo and detergent items that Craig had previously offered to his customers at the Bee Shop on Hospital Street.
“In the future it’s likely to be staffed by community farm volunteers and Zero Waste volunteers with work experience opportunities for our people at Giraffe too.
“Once our costs are covered we’ll share the profits, it will be a fundraiser for the two causes.”
The shop had a ‘soft launch’ last Saturday and is due to be open this Thursday (January 30) from 5.30pm-8pm. For more information, visit the The Zero Waste Pop-up Shop page on Facebook.