Shoppers urged to make ‘Good Choices’
New zero waste store opens doors in Bridge of Allan
Stirling residents are being invited to try environmentally friendly grocery shopping with the opening of a new store in Bridge of Allan.
‘The Good Choice’ opens at 10am on Saturday in Bridge of Allan’s Henderson Street.
The zero waste shop will be offering a range of store cupboard refillable and plastic free essentials, grains and cereals, pastas, baking ingredients, teas and coffees, cleaning and personal care products.
Zero waste shops offer an alternative to the mainstream supermarket model by eliminating product packaging through the use of refill systems. Customers are also encouraged to bring their own containers – anything will do, as long as it is clean and suitable for the product being purchased (paper bags and recycled containers will also be available for a nominal charge). This also allows customers to buy exactly the amount they need, rather than in pre-packed sizes, which in turn helps to avoid food waste.
Along with zero waste, ‘sustainability’ is key to the Good Choice model. Products on sale will be sourced as locally as possible to reduce transport emissions and help customers enjoy the huge range of choices on their local doorstep. Products available on launch day include eggs from Bannockburn-based Eggilicious, Stirling’s Vera Artisan Bakery, Ochil Honey and Grace Chocolate. The shop will also offer vegan options to suit everybody.
Customers will also notice the brands on offer have a socially, environmentally or community orientated ethos in their practices, ensuring ‘good choices’ at all levels of the business.
‘The Good Choice’ is run by Stirling couple Pilar Amieva and Stuart Leathley. Their route into zero waste and sustainability has been an unusual one; both met while working as engineers in the oil and gas industry.
Pilar said: “Stirling residents recycle around 57 per cent of the waste produced, which is a fantastic effort given how difficult it is to avoid single-use plastic products in our shops. “But we need to do more. “It’s tough making good choices when out shopping, so we’re here to help with advice, support and an amazing range of products at reasonable prices, and not a plastic bag in sight. We’re looking forward to becoming part of Stirling’s local business community and can’t wait to welcome people into the store.”
This is the second store for the business, with the first ‘The Good Choice’ opening up in Glasgow’s southside in October 2020.
It’s tough making good choices when out shopping, so we’re here to help with advice and support