Bring a bag to new ‘plastic-free’ store
A‘ PLASTIC- FREE’ general store selling loose products without any plastic packaging or containers will be opening soon.
In a departure from the usual shopping experience, customers will be expected to bring their own containers and can fill them up with a range of environmentallyfriendly products.
Fulfilled will also sell reusable containers, jars and cotton drawstring bags as well as paper bags for those who are new to the lifestyle.
The store will be opening on September 1, on Silver Street in Ramsbottom.
Owner Abbie Sellers was inspired to open the shop after she found her own attempts to live a plastic-free life to be difficult.
The conservation biol- ogy graduate said: “Last year, I discovered the zero-waste movement, where people try to live their lives, making zero waste. I tried it, and it turns out it’s quite hard.
“Continental Europe is way ahead of us here, there are a few similar shops in London but in Manchester or nearby there were none.”
To help her environmentally-conscious customers, Abbie plans to stock as many products as she possibly can in her shop.
She said: “We’d weigh your containers then everything will be in freeflow containers on the walls. There will be jars of things like spices, coffee and nuts. We will have big containers of cleaning products, laundry liquid, fabric softner and we’ll have other items like biodegradable toothbrushes and sponges.”
After conducting her own market research, Abbie, who lives in Tot- tington, settled on Ramsbottom as the place to open her revolutionary shop. She says there has been a massive upsurge in interest in plastic-free living after the airing of David Attenborough’s ‘Blue Planet II’ documentary series - which focused on the effects of plastic on the world’s oceans.
She added: “Earlier this year Blue Planet II happened.
“Everything clicked and the issue was brought to the front of people’s minds, as well as all the media attention.
“I did an online survey to get an idea of interest and 500 people filled it in - most from Ramsbottom - and were keen to have it. Other local business are interested too.
“Incredible Edibles were really up for it.”