As people become increasingly aware of the environmental issues around plastic waste, Smaller Footprints are approaching the issue head on, offering consumers the chance to shop in a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly way. Finding it absurd that packaged items were costing less than the equivalent loose items in the supermarket, owners Grant Mercer and Hazel Foster decided to do something about it and opened Bristol’s third packaging-free store in Clifton.
Single-use packaging has come under huge scrutiny in recent times as an unsustainable way to package items. With so much plastic ending up in the natural environment and landfills filling up fast, the owners of Smaller Footprints reckon an increasing amount of people feel something needs to change. In their new shop in Clifton items are stored in gravity dispensing machines and large tubs from which customers fill their own containers with the quantities they require. The shop will look to keep finding more products to offer packaging-free.
Visitors to Smaller Footprints in Clifton can expect to find a good range of food and non-food items. From coffee, tea, oils, pasta, rice, herbs, flour, honey, muesli and much more, the new shop has plenty of choice, although they are always open to ideas and feedback on updating these products. The non-food range includes travel cups, drinks bottles, bags, soap and shampoo bars, toothbrushes, cleaning products and reusable nappies to name just a few. Buying could not be easier and works on the premise of weighing your empty container before weighing again when filled with your produce.
The idea for Smaller Footprints was conceived in August 2017 and the new shop is now up and running, offering consumers the chance to shop in a more environmentally-friendly manner. The owners also cite a positive in customers being able to select the quantity of the items they want rather than a given packaged quantity. By choosing only what you need there should be less food waste. Consumers in Clifton therefore have a path available to direct their discontent with single use plastic packaging and opt for a zero waste solution instead.
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