Looking for plastic free shops in London? Bulk food shops offer locally sourced, planet-friendly groceries without the needless packaging.
You may not be able to fit a whole year’s waste into a mason jar just yet, but a few small changes can go further than you think.
Time to grab your cloth bags and get filling at these 10 zero waste and plastic free shops in London.
Zero Waste and Plastic Free Shops in London
Liberté Cherié
Notting Hill
French-born Charles Pelletier has a background in Michelin star restaurants, so you can expect the finest bulk ingredients around at Liberté Cherié on the Portobello Road.
In addition to all the pantry essentials, this popular zero waste grocery store has an impressive deli counter where you can pick up a range of delicacies such as tuna bresaola or purple nocerella olives.
From mustards to fresh eggs, 75% of foods are UK sourced and 20% from Europe.
Get Loose Foods at Hackney City Farm
Haggerston
Hackney City Farm’s Get Loose is a much loved zero waste shop in East London – a slice of rural charm in the heart of the city.
After saying hello to the goats and chickens, you can pick up some plastic free organic fruit and veg, pulses, oils, dairy products, toiletries and plenty more.
Much of their stock comes from independent local producers, including coffee from south-east London roastery Mont58, nut butters and relishes from Carley’s and vegan cheeses by Palace Culture.
The Source Bulk Foods
London-wide
The Source Bulk Foods were born in Australia and are gradually conquering the globe. They have several shops around the UK, including six branches in London.
Stock up on over 500 plastic free bulk foods from baking ingredients to pasta. Naturally, the organic chocolate vanilla fudge and Home Counties honey sourced from the South Downs is at the top of our shopping list.
Click and collect and UK wide delivery available.
Fin and Earth
Dalston
Fin and Earth is a stylish zero waste store where you can buy a lovely range of lifestyle items, along with your pantry staples.
After perusing the beeswax candles, coconut scourers and organic kitchen cloths, fill up on OceanSaver cleaning products, oat milk and organic herbs and spices.
Free local bike delivery is available for orders over £20 if you live within 1.5 miles of Hackney.
Unpackaged at Planet Organic
London-wide
If you’ve noticed Unpackaged refillable stations at your local Planet Organic, this is the brainchild of zero waste movement trailblazer Catherine Conway. Back in 2006, she pioneered zero waste shopping in London, initially at Broadway and Exmouth markets.
A year later, she opened the first ever zero waste grocery store in Islington, selling 700 products.
Despite closing up shop in 2013, Unpackaged opened their first concession in Planet Organic Muswell Hill two years later. They are now in nine of their London branches selling over 70 certified organic products from mango slices to popping corn.
Re: Store
Hackney
For those of you searching for zero waste shops in East London, you’ll love Re: Store at Hackney Downs Studios.
Prioritising an inclusive approach to zero waste, an interesting section of their website compares the affordability of their food to that of the supermarket giants.
Pick up a lovely selection of natural organic and plastic free beauty brands here, as well as some great foods from East London producers such as The’ Arty Vegan and I Am Nut OK.
Delivery is available up to 6km from the shop location.
By Gram
Fulham
By Gram is one of the most stylish plastic free shops in London. Step into a serene plant-filled store and you can stock up on plenty of dry food essentials contained in beautifully lit boxes.
Producers are organic, small local makers with a sustainable mindset. There’s also a whole wall dedicated to detergent refills.
Local delivery is available for SW6 postcodes and they will soon be opening another store in Hampstead.
Zéro
Wimbledon
The first zero waste store in Wimbledon, Zéro was founded by Alicia and Josh. Their ethos was inspired by time spent in Italy and France where the culture of visiting specialised shops for bread, cheese and vegetables is still very much ingrained.
As well as your standard dry goods you can stock up on refillable toiletries from Welsh brand Cole & Co and laundry products from Sesi. They also sell fresh fruit and veg by sustainable agriculture brand Natoora.
Deliveries come in reusable containers which you can return with your next order.
Bulk Market
Hackney
Bulk Market was founded by Ingrid Caldironi, previously a B2B retail marketing executive for a Fortune Global 500 company.
Modelled on an ethical and sustainable supermarket, most of the produce comes from under a 50 miles radius from the shop, is UK grown, made to organic standards or is certified by Soil Association.
Got some old plastic toothbrushes lying around? Bulk Market will send them (along with old toothpaste tubes and dental floss) to Terracycle as part of the Colgate recycling programme.
Check out their DIY Beauty Bar which includes essential oils, tins and unrefined shea butter for making your own zero waste face masks and heavenly bath soaks.
Kilo
Archway
Jordan Perata left her job in commercial interior design in 2019 just before the pandemic. Then she restored a run down building on the Holloway Road and turned it into a plastic free shop of course.
At Kilo you can stock up on the usual pulses, herbs, cereals, nuts as well as lots of vegan offerings. There’s a good selection of zero waste toiletries and some chilled and frozen items such as frozen peppers, potatoes, raspberries or carrots, all sold plastic free.
Saturday is a good time to visit when they’re also selling fresh vegan pastries.
Local delivery by bike courier available within 3km.
Practical Tips for Shopping at Refill Shops in London
- Some of the smaller zero waste shops aren’t open every day. Check opening hours as they may chop and change.
- Bring your own jars and tupperware but where possible, cloth bags are much less heavy and bulky, plus you’ll be able to carry more.
- Wash containers well before refilling to prevent contamination.
- If you forget your own containers, stores usually provide paper bags or vessels you can buy.
Zero Waste and Plastic Free Shops London: Map
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