With its fresh opening on the 20th of November, 2018 the shop provides the city with it’s first sustainable, plastic free alternative to your normal supermarket; offering everything from organic groceries to wholesale zero waste lifestyle and household goods. Every product has a story, and customers can be certain they are supporting ethical and sustainable small businesses. The concept is simple and effective; bring jars and containers for your shop, fill them up, weigh and pay! Or, sign up for subscription boxes which are delivered by electric cargo bike on the first Friday of every month!
Earlier this year while awaiting the arrival of their first child, owners Matt and Steph – also founders of Sunshine Yoga in Gorgie – became increasingly aware that much of the waste we believe will be recycled actually ends up in landfill or polluting the world’s oceans. Ever since, they have been on a mission to achieve a plastic free Edinburgh, moving forward with the mantra “planet and purpose before profit.”
The opening of the Eco Larder is a landmark in a collective shift towards a heightened awareness of our impact on the environment, and a desire to take action. It is a social enterprise made possible by volunteers and £22,000 raised through crowd-funding – supplied by a growing community with the same planet and purpose over profit ethos. As well as being Edinburgh’s only zero plastic waste shop, The Eco Larder will provide a base for a fast-growing community of people eager to make less of an environmental impact and learn more about sustainable living. The shop will host free, accessible and inclusive workshops, events and screenings on everything from how to reduce waste to making your own products and much more. The Larder’s facebook group, Eco Larder Community Zero Waste Living – which all are welcome to join – is already abuzz with questions, discussions and opportunities to chip in with reducing waste and pollution across the city.