Plastic is a big issue. But it’s not easy to reduce the amount of plastic you buy when nearly everything is wrapped in the stuff – walk around your local supermarket and you’ll see what we mean. We know that recycling isn’t stemming the tide of plastics filling our oceans and landfills.

With Leeds pledging to reduce plastic pollution by signing the Eurocities declaration last year (as part of the Plastic Smart Cities initiative), and both The University of Leeds and Leeds University Union pledging to become single-use plastic-free by 2023, it’s clearly as big a concern up North as it is worldwide.

If you want to reduce your plastic waste to make a difference to the environment, there are a few small changes you can make, and a good first step is switching where you shop. So, read on - we’ve got you covered with our guide to some of the best zero waste stores, refill shops and environmentally friendly places to buy food in God’s Own Country.

Unsplash: @maddibazzocco — *Unsplash:* *@maddibazzocco*

Dried Goods and Pantry Items

Panda Refills and ecoTopia are great options. You will find many plastic-free alternatives, and both sell loose items that you can take away in a cloth bag or glass jar. They deliver as well, with everything arriving in biodegradable packaging.

The Refilling Station in Chapel Allerton is another place to visit, offering a ‘click and collect’ service, and Leeds Refills just opened in Hyde Park Corner during the pandemic. They may be small, but they have a great range of products.

The Natural Food Store in Headingley (a volunteer-run co-operative) and Millies in Vicar Lane (they have an award-winning deli counter too!) are two well-established places to get eco-friendly items.

Veggies and Fruits

Meanwood Valley Urban Farm sells organically-grown vegetables through a Community Supported Agriculture Scheme – just check out the website to order. You can also support them by signing up to receive a weekly veg box.

The Headingley Greengrocer is a well-known stop for a range of fruits and vegetables, as well as milk in glass bottles.

Unsplash: @geek_freelance — *Unsplash:* *@geek_freelance*

Meat and Dairy

Setchfield Butchers is a great choice. You can also find lots of quality sellers in Kirkgate Market. Don’t forget to bring a container!

For your dairy needs, George & Joseph offer a ‘click and collect’ service, so you can get your hands on their award-winning cheeses without any fuss. Salvo’s is an Italian restaurant that offers a deli counter, where you can pick up delicious salumi and cheese, among other artisan goodies.

To get milk delivered, you can rely on the ‘milkies’ at The Modern Milkman. Have a look and see if they deliver to your postcode. They’ve got a whole range of other items you can add to your order, like bread, oat milk, and pastries – that’s breakfast sorted, and all plastic-free! Alternatively, McQueen’s Dairies also deliver milk and orange juice in glass bottles.

Fish

Look no further than your local Morrisons or Waitrose counter. You will find a wide range of fresh unwrapped fish and seafood.

Unsplash: @judowoodo — *Unsplash:* *@judowoodo*

Baked Goods

There are a range of places to choose from – we like Meanwood’s Wildcraft Bakery, an award-winning gluten-free bakery and café, and Leeds Bread Co-op, a social enterprise specialising in hand-crafted baked goods.

Hopefully, these have given you some great starting points for reducing the amount of plastic waste you produce with your weekly supermarket run. Plus, it’s great to support small, ethically-run local businesses and initiatives. Happy shopping!

Written by Naomi Anderson Whittaker

Help us keep the City Girl Network running by supporting us via Patreon for the price of a cheap cup of coffee - just £2 a month. For £3 a month you can also get yourself a Patreon exclusive 10% off any of our ticketed events! You can also support us by following us on Instagram, and by joining our City Girl Network (city wide!) Facebook group.