ZERO waste, or refill shop, the way to kick that plastic habit and help save the world. Like so many minority shopping habits it’s heading for the mainstream (the national Zero Waste Week is September 2-t). Just remember to bring your own strong reusable bags to use the food dispensers in the likes of the new Stretford Food Hall with its emphasis on community values.
We like it there, but even more impressive is One Small Step, based in the contemporary food operation that set the trend for everyone, Altrincham Market. It was launched in April this year by Rachael Wong, no one’s idea of an eco zealot, just one of those campaigners responding to the planet’s environmental challenges.
One Small Step’s aim is to help customers on their way to a lifestyle that does not contain unnecessary waste, and ultimately to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in our oceans or in landfill for centuries to come.
The response to One Small Step has been so great that in only three-months the space and the range of products available has doubled.
Rachael says: “At One Small Step we want to change the paradigms around how we consume. We want to think outside the box and help the local community realise how convenient and easy a zero waste lifestyle can be and also to introduce all of the alternatives to single use plastic that are out there. Many people will be pleasantly surprised by the vast amount of alternatives so readily available to us all.”
At One Small Step you can find a wide variety of unpackaged pantry goods – pastas, grains, cereals, healthy snacks, to name a few, personal and home cleaning products, such as washing-up liquid, laundry detergent, surface cleaner, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and more.,
These are part of a range of refillable goods, but there is also a large selection of reusable and biodegradable lifestyle products such as water bottles, bamboo toothbrushes, beeswax wraps, shampoo bars, laundry soap-nuts, metal straws, lunchboxes and more.
The majority of products are organic and all of them are cruelty-free and designed with a healthier planet in mind. If this sounds scarily right-on, don’t fret. Rachael’s approach is serious but also fun.
You can find One Small Step trading at Altrincham Market on Tuesdays, Thursday, Fridays and Sundays from 10-4pm and Saturdays from 9-4pm.