The Zero Waste Shop

The Earth Food Love is UK's First Zero Waste shop that started in 2017 and specializes in organic food and non-food items.

They have no packaging for any of their products, and customers can bring along anything they please by way of containers, plastic, cloth or glass jars. The containers are weighed, filled with ware, weighed again, labeled and then the payment is made. This shop uses Ecotricity and support the Totnes Pound, and thereby contribute to strengthening the local economy. For people who forget to bring their containers there are paper bags that are fully compostable.

This shop is dealing with the waste problem by eliminating it completely in their business, which they refer to recycling as a solution for the waste that ends up in landfills. Instead, they promote the 5Rs- Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot.

Food items range from grains, nuts, cereal, dried fruits, drinks, etc. The non-food items are cleaning products, cloth sandwich wraps, bamboo cutlery, soy wax wraps, lunch tiffins, metal straws, cotton bulk bags, canvas bags, moon cups, washable feminine care, wooden toothbrushes, stainless steel razors, toothpaste, bamboo floss, canvas bags, mason jars, tea caddies and mesh tea strainers.

The family owned shop is managed by the couple Nicola and Richard Eckersley, and can be found in Devon, UK. The store got a good news coverage. Among which: The Guardian, The Independent, CNN, Sky News, BBC Spotlight and Toronto News. They have advised and helped people who have set up similar shops in South Africa and New Zealand, while others want to start in Bristol, Wales and Birmingham.