Couple raising funds for zero-waste store to help get rid of plastic
Green entrepreneurs have launched a crowd-funding appeal to raise money towards setting up a zero-waste store in the Scottish capital.
The new shop, named Ecolarder, will be dedicated to eliminating unnecessary packaging. It will sell everyday goods, from dry foods such as pulses, grains, coffee and loose leaf teas, to household products, pet food and toiletries.
Earth-friendly alternatives to products usually made from plastic will also be available, such as bamboo cups and toothbrushes.
The brainchild of husband and wife team Matthew and Stephanie Foulds, Eco Larder is being run as a social enterprise with profits going to environmental organisations and local clean-up missions.
The couple met while studying in the city a decade ago and loved it so much they stayed. They set up their first business, Sunshine Yoga studio, in Gorgie nearly two years ago.
They have also recently welcomed the arrival of their first child, baby Jasmina, who is ten weeks old.
Now they are looking for backers to help them open the new store. More than £1,270 towards the £20,000 target has already been pledged.
“A zero waste shop aims to change consumer behaviour around packaging and plastic waste,” said Mrs Foulds. “The customer brings along their own recycled or multiple-use containers to get weighed, filled up and purchased.
“The Eco Larder will be dedicated to being totally packagefree, making it unique in the beautiful city of Edinburgh.”
Profits will be ploughed into local and global environmental projects, with donations going to the international charity Ocean Clean Up and the UK’S Marine Conservation Society. The pair will also be running workshops at the shop, teaching people how to reduce waste and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
The world is facing a growing problem from plastic litter, which remains in the environment for hundreds – perhaps thousands – of years. Estimates suggest up to 12 million tonnes of plastic enters oceans around the world each year, posing a major danger to wildlife. Mr Foulds added: “Our aim is to reduce plastic waste filling up our oceans and to create a greener planet.”
The shop will be situated in Clifton Terrace, in Haymarket area of Edinburgh.
A Zero Waste Scotland spokesperson said: “Shoppers increasingly want to be able to make more sustainable choices. It’s vital for our environment and economy that we leave behind our single-use habits and really make things last.”
i.amos@scotsman.com