Scoop and Scales Plastic Free Shopping
Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor
We are all looking for ways to reduce our personal impact on the planet. The demands of the modern world can make this tricky sometimes, but Macclesfield’s Scoop and Scales hopes to make things a little simpler. This waste free shopping cooperative runs a fill-your-own, plastic free store that enables shoppers to choose ethical products and buy only what they need, helping avoid unnecessary packaging that might end up in a landfill along the way.
As you might expect, Scoop and Scales stocks all your pantry essentials, including breakfast foods, herbs, spices, pulses, grains and pasta. But it also provides products to help make your household run in a more environmentally friendly way, such as cruelty-free soaps, shampoos and household cleaners, as well as plastic-free toothbrushes, straws and compostable cleaning cloths. There are cards, gifts and clothing too, for those looking to extend their ethical shopping beyond the essentials.
Scoop and Scales makes great effort to support worthy suppliers, whether that means reducing the road miles of their inventory by working with local organisations or finding companies that trade ethically
Indeed, Scoop and Scales makes great effort to support worthy suppliers, whether that means reducing the road miles of their inventory by working with local organisations or finding companies that trade ethically and sell environmentally-friendly products. Shoppers can find tea from Manchester-based family enterprise Bohea Teas, hot chocolate from Cheshire’s Harry’s Drinks Company and a huge range of nuts, cereals and spices from Wigan Wholefoods.
Running as a cooperative helps to keep things working smoothly. Anybody can join for a small one-off fee (although they invite you to get in touch if that’s going to be a barrier) and receive 5% off their shopping. In exchange, members are expected to contribute to the running and development of Scoop and Scales, working according to their abilities to help ensure that the cooperative can continue in its mission, and support local causes too.
