It can be very tricky indeed to avoid plastic completely if you shop in most supermarkets. There is so much plastic packaging on items, even on fresh fruit and vegetables. But there are choices to be made- which can take some effort. It if often the case that if you shop in independent, more local shops it will be easier to avoid plastic.
The aim of this section is to help direct you to places where you can shop plastic-free or at least make strides in that direction.
This list is just starting to be compiled and so if you can help us add to it, please get in touch with details.
Swansea Market has a range of stall holders who will happily pack your goods plastic free. (More details coming soon...)
Fresh fruit and Vegetables
The aim of this section is to help direct you to places where you can shop plastic-free or at least make strides in that direction.
This list is just starting to be compiled and so if you can help us add to it, please get in touch with details.
Swansea Market has a range of stall holders who will happily pack your goods plastic free. (More details coming soon...)
Fresh fruit and Vegetables
- The Choice is Yours market stall also has a shop in Mumbles and will do plastic free deliveries.
- Norton Farm Shop sell a range of fresh fruit and veg from their shop in Norton.
- Cae Tan are a local farming co-operative who grow vegetables on Gower and have a veg box scheme available for collection.
- Murton Farm Shop, Murton, Gower, sells a range of fruits and veg at this shop.
- George Chaplin and Sons, The Precinct Killay, stock fruit and veg, supplying milk and orange juice in glass bottles. All the bottles can be returned to the shop for cleaning and reuse.
- Swansea Food Assembly is a relatively new initiative where you can order products online and then collect. Most of ‘stalls’ are plastic free.
- Shepherd's grocer, 110, High Street, Gorseinon have paper bags available for loose fruit and veg, and will accept own bags/containers for other loose produce such as nuts and grains.
- Local markets are held at the Marina, Uplands, Mumbles, Sketty, Penclawdd, Pennard and also Pontarddulais at various regular slots each month. Many stalls at each of these will be operating plastic-free. See online for details of dates and times.
- Lush are known for having ‘naked’ products- without plastic packaging . For example, they sell shampoo bars rather than bottles.
- The Environment Centre has a whole range of plastic-free options, These include bamboo toothbrushes, bamboo coffee cups, shampoo bars, biodegradable poo bags for your dog mess, beeswax wraps which replace cling film and stainless steel straws. Also an Ecover refilling station for items such as washing up liquid, laundry liquid, fabric conditioner and all purpose cleaner.
- Pwys offers shoppers the chance to buy dried food and cleaning products plastic-free. Currently selling via the Swansea Food Assembly.
- Dewi Richards, Butcher, 17, Alexandra road, Gorseinon is happy to accept own bags and containers.
- Frosty’s Green Grocers, Herbert Street, Pontardawe has recently launched a zero waste section in their shop where you can stock up on your oats and grains by bringing along your own containers. Also a section on condiments and cupboard essentials that are mainly made of glass or tins.
- Holland & Barrett, The Quadrant, now have a selection of pick & mix of nuts and seeds etc. where you weigh your own quantity and put in a paper bag.
- Pennard Stores, Southgate are trialing the sale of water in reusable cans!