Refill retailers & eco-shopping

When it comes to recycling, we’re rubbish. Almost a third of what ends up in the dump is food and nearly two thirds of what we put in our black bins could be recycled.

We can help by using some of the new Zero Waste shops that offer a wide range of products and the chance to cut down on your packaging. You can either take your own jars and containers along or use paper bags.

There are two Zero Waste shops in the city and several others across the region that are working towards helping us reduce the amount of rubbish we produce. While many offer planetfriendly products for a plant-based lifestyle, cutting down on enjoyment, style or taste isn’t part of the programme. You’ll find lots of high-end products and little luxuries in store.

Rosemary Planet on Holburn Street specialise in organic and eco-friendly products. They carry everything from pastas and wholefoods to herbs and spices, teas and coffees and carry a range of vegan confectionary as well as refillable toiletries and cleaning products. They also have a rather good peanut butter making machine.

Refillosophy is on Albyn Grove. They don’t open on Mondays, but you can visit any other day. As well as their refill products, they always have a good selection of fruit and veg and some delicious cakes and bakes from local suppliers like The Cake Runner and Vegan Bay.

The shop upstairs at FoodStory on Thistle Street and the store at Newton Dee in Bieldside, as well as Nature’s Larder on Holburn Street all offer some refillable or zero waste products.

Outwith the city, try Bare-Zero Waste Living in Ellon, Butterfly Effect in Insch, Deeside Re-fill in Torphins, Speciality Foods in Stonehaven, Fraserburgh’s Wholehearted, the Ethical Gift Shop and Refillery in Huntly and Baobab which has just opened in Banff.