Wiltshire


<p>The world of refills has been quietly bubbling away for a few years, with refill shops popping up on local high streets here and there, piquing the interest of the sustainably-minded.  If you&#8217;re yet to get on board, here&#8217;s the lowdown. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/11/refill-shops-near-me.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-23850" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/11/refill-shops-near-me.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/11/refill-shops-near-me-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/11/refill-shops-near-me-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/11/refill-shops-near-me-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/11/refill-shops-near-me-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Inside The Blueberry Den</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-a-refill-shop">What is a refill shop?</h2>



<p>Also known as zero waste shops, refill shops aim to cut out unnecessary packaging by storing products in large containers which customers fill up their own containers from home with. </p>



<p>You simply weigh your empty container in store, fill it with your product of choice, re-weigh the container once full and pay for what you’ve taken.</p>



<p>They&#8217;re making a big difference too, as Tom Bowerman, from the <a href="https://thewildfoodcompany.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Wild Food Company (opens in a new tab)">Wild Food Company</a>, a refill shop in Malmesbury, tells us. &#8220;Over the last year, we’ve saved over 26,000 pieces of packaging waste, which works out at over 500 a week and over 85 a day based on our six-day opening week. </p>



<p>&#8220;We’re only one small shop in a small town so it just goes to show how much of an impact shopping this way can have on saving waste!&#8221;</p>



<p>This is a sentiment Wendy and Andrew of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Courtyard Marketplace (opens in a new tab)" href="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-courtyard-marketplace/" target="_blank">The Courtyard Marketplace</a> in Wilton can get on board with. Above the entrance to the refillable Eco Den inside their store a sign reads ‘all it takes is one small change to make a huge difference.’ &#8220;Now is the time more than ever to make the necessary swaps to improve the future of our planet,&#8221; Wendy says. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-can-you-buy-in-refill-shops">What can you buy in refill shops?</h2>



<p>More than you might realise! Aside from pasta, rice, dried fruit, nuts and cereal, you can also stock up on made-in-store peanut butter (yum!), porridge, cooking oils, fresh juices, oat milk, tahini and wine, as well as spices. </p>



<p>Cleaning-wise you can refill washing up liquid, hand soap, dishwasher rinse aid, shampoo and laundry products. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/11/refillable-handsoap.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-23852" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/11/refillable-handsoap.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/11/refillable-handsoap-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/11/refillable-handsoap-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/11/refillable-handsoap-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/11/refillable-handsoap-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>&#8220;Many people come in thinking that we only offer cleaning products but once they realise that we actually have every possible essential item as a refill, they recognise that moving to zero waste is easier than they think,&#8221; says Celeste Skinner who runs <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Blueberry Den (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.blueberryden.co.uk/" target="_blank">Blueberry Den</a> in Salisbury. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-benefits-of-refill-shops">What are the benefits of refill shops?</h3>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-reduced-plastic-waste">1. Reduced plastic waste</h2>



<p>This is the biggie! Refills are a sure-fire way to reduce single-use plastics. &#8220;I personally think refills are the easiest and most straightforward way to reduce plastic waste,&#8221; says Celeste. </p>



<p>&#8220;Everyone uses washing-up liquid, surface cleaner, shampoo, body wash, etc. Once empty, you can just refill the bottles and never have to buy a new one again.&#8221; </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-you-waste-less">2. You waste less</h2>



<p>&#8220;When you&#8217;re refilling you can buy as much or as little as you need (perfect for recipes, travelling or to manage your cash flow),&#8221; says Celeste.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-superior-quality-goods">3. Superior quality goods </h2>



<p>&#8220;People are often impressed that the quality of everything that they get is so much better,&#8221; Celeste says.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-you-can-try-a-little-bit-of-something">4. You can try a little bit of something</h2>



<p>How many times have you bought a bottle of shampoo only to find it doesn&#8217;t work for your hair, or purchased fabric conditioner then realised you hate the smell? With refill shops you can buy a small amount, try it and then buy a bigger bottle safe in the knowledge it works for you. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-refill-shops-more-expensive">Are refill shops more expensive? </h2>



<p>Many people are put off refill shops through fear it will end up being costly, but this is the opposite of the case.</p>



<p>&#8220;Nearly everything in our shop works out less expensive than buying the same product packaged in a supermarket,&#8221; says Tom. &#8220;Most customers find they are saving money on their shopping basket with us. A good example would be herbs and spices where the customer can fill up their spice jar for pence.&#8221;</p>



<p>Some might be more expensive, Hayley from zero waste shop <a href="https://www.packagingnotincluded.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Packaging Not Included (opens in a new tab)">Packaging Not Included</a> in Marlborough says, but the quality is generally superior. &#8220;For example, pasta can be pricier bought from a refill shop but the quality and taste may be worth that little bit extra.&#8221; </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-there-any-downsides-to-refills">Are there any downsides to refills? </h2>



<p>Only that you need to be a bit more organised and have containers with you to stock up with, but it soon becomes second nature, like taking your reusable bags out shopping with you.</p>



<p>Refilling your containers does take a little longer than grabbing something off the shelf, but the refill element is all part of the fun! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-kind-of-container-can-i-fill-up">What kind of container can I fill up?</h2>



<p>You don&#8217;t have to have perfect Tupperware boxes to fill. &#8220;People can bring in plastic tubs, tins, glass jars, fabric bags, plastic bags, silicone pouches, metal lunch boxes and take away cups. Anything goes really as long as it&#8217;s clean and dry and will fit on the scales,&#8221; says Hayley. &#8220;Somebody once filled some socks (clean!) with hazelnuts, which was very entertaining!&#8221;</p>



<p>Unusual containers are par for the course with refill shops. Tom tells us someone once filled their woolly hat to the brim with pasta and another time a customer asked to have their washing up bowl filled with rice.</p>



<p>&#8220;My most memorable containers have to be a ketchup bottle for shampoo and a mayonnaise bottle for conditioner,&#8221; Celeste shares. &#8220;As long as customers are happy reusing what they have and we label the products correctly, we love every effort towards zero waste.&#8221;</p>


Why we should all be shopping in refill stores

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