For the health of our natural environment, more and more consumers are saying goodbye to plastic-wrapped products and hello to zero-waste. Whether you’re just beginning your journey, or you’ve become well-rehearsed at this old-but-new style of shopping, Cornwall has a selection of stores where you can fill up your containers with tasty produce. We’ve taken a look at a few of our favourites in the area; so, grab your bottles and Tupperware and enjoy the fantastic selection on offer.
If you’re planning on a stay in one of our stunning Truro holiday cottages and want to stock up your cupboards with a selection of delicious foods and drinks, then The Refill Store is where to go. Motivated by David Attenborough’s sobering documentary, ‘The Blue Planet’, two Cornish mums took on the responsibility to encourage their community and visitors to reduce their reliance on plastic. With the outstanding Cornish coast, serving as the backdrop to their daily lives, their passion for protection is reignited each time they are by the open ocean. It’s this love, and the inability to ignore the challenges faced, that continually enthuses them to provide the opportunity to go plastic-free. In their words, ‘small steps to big changes’.
The Refill Store stock a fantastic range of goods, including pasta and cereals, pulses and nuts, herbs and spices and teas and coffee. As well as this foodie selection, you can also get household products and bathroom essentials!
The Refill Store is open Monday – Saturday, 9am – 5pm.
Husband and wife team, Jack and Gemma, are sharing their plastic-free vision by transporting their ‘shop’ to multiple locations across Cornwall. This innovative couple take to the open road in their big blue van, to share their enthusiasm for packaging-free food and offer their brilliant selection of produce and goods to the locals. Their mission is clear, helping to make the ‘zero waste lifestyle as convenient and accessible as possible’.
Surprisingly for some, Incredible Bulk has an extensive selection of foods, cleaning products, personal grooming items and lifestyle products. It’s hard to believe just how much they can offer from their four wheels.
Incredible Bulk can be found at various locations across Cornwall, including Falmouth, Newquay, Penzance, St Ives, Truro, Helston, Mount Hawke and more! Keep an eye on their social media for any upcoming location reveals.
The inspiration for un_rap was to offer a place to stock up on planet-friendly products; yet quite naturally, alongside this mission, a real sense of community has been nurtured, relationships have been built, and people have connected. It’s more than a plastic-free store; it’s a community hub that invites regulars and visitors alike, to share ideas and work towards reducing their impact on the environment.
un_rap have got plenty of foods to get your taste buds tingling. Whether you’re looking for ingredients to bake a cake, spice up a savoury dish or you simply want to grab a quick snack.
Head to their website for their extensive product list or pop in the store! They are open Monday – Saturday, 9.30am – 5.30pm and on Sundays, 10am – 4pm.
The inspiration and drive behind the good life came from two friends, Jaime and Laura and their supportive families. After succumbing to the lure of the Cornish coast, the pair moved to the seaside in search of a more relaxed lifestyle. They had both been working towards a plastic-free existence before opening shop and wanted to share their journey and encourage others to do the same.
The ethical store in Newquay is a refreshing and welcoming place to be; alongside dry foods, they also stock a gorgeous selection of homeware and lifestyle products. The guilt-free items range from kitchenware and cleaning products, to bath and body goodies and home and interior accessories. The bookshelves are also filled with fascinating reads, with the themes being around environmental consciousness, healthy eating and happy minds.
The Good Lyfe is open Monday to Saturday 9am – 6pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm.
Are you aspiring to be plastic-free? Have we missed any of your favourite independent shops in Cornwall? We’d love to hear of where you go to stock up! Get in touch with us via our social media channels!
THE VALLEY is proud to be the only 5 Star Gold Self Catering holiday village of its size in the whole of Cornwall
