MBChB student, Sarah Mackay, with a round-up of the top five sustainable shops in Edinburgh.
I don’t know about you, but often I despair at the amount of unnecessary plastic thrown in the bin after my weekly shop. But fear not! Edinburgh is full of sustainable zero waste and refill shops available at our disposal, so we can all try to do our bit and help the planet.
1. New Leaf Co-op
A staple for anyone who stays in Marchmont, the New Leaf Coop has an amazing selection of fresh fruit, vegetables and bread (packaging-free of course!) available. They also have over 100 loose herbs and spices, which is so handy when you only need a small amount of something . A personal favourite is the grind your own nut butter – where every day of the week there’s a different variety of nut to try.
2. The Refillery
A completely plastic-free refill shop, the Refillery has the added bonus of having an online shop and even delivery. So, there’s no excuse to if you can’t make it to their Newington or Costorphine shops. Bring your own container or purchase a jar and get refilling with their range of groceries, fresh produce and cleaning and personal care items.
3. Zero waste hub – Shrub Co-op
A swap-shop, food sharing hub and veggie/vegan café, Shrub Co-op really has it all. Always holding events, keep an eye on their Facebook for their next ‘Repair what you wear” or even “Bike maintenance workshop”. Head down to their Bread Street location to grab a guilt-free coffee and maybe donate some of those summer clothes we inevitably won’t be reaching for now that autumn in Edinburgh has set in!
4.Eco Larder
Since opening in 2018, the Eco Larder has led the way in sustainable shopping. They are also a social enterprise, meaning that for every £1 spent in their shop you are funding the social and environmental goals they are working towards. This includes placing returnable bottles into circulation, holding online and in person workshops on environmental education and organising monthly beach cleans. Their online blogs are a great way to read up on sustainability.
5. Weigh To Go
Across the other side of town, in Leith Walk, Weigh to Go is a go to for local produce. Cow and oat milk are found in glass bottles and free-range eggs are delivered from Penicuik fresh every week. Weigh to Go prides itself on being more than just a local refill shop and is challenging everyone to never buy another plastic bottle. They have refills of nearly any cleaning product you could think of and shampoo, conditioner and even body lotion. So, get yourself down and take your old bottles to give them a new lease of life!
