Words by Smiley Team
Environmentalists will swarm the streets of Glasgow, the host of COP26, from 31 October to 14 November. For those visiting the city, it’s a chance to explore the wealth of local businesses catering to eco-conscious customers.
To guide people through the city’s offering, an open-source platform called the Green Map is highlighting some of the city’s top spots to eat, shop, relax and be entertained. Here is just a selection of what can be found.
Fancy a new outfit for your attendance at COP26? R:evolve Clothing is one of your best bets, a unique initiative to tackle consumption, emissions and waste. They do this through swapping, sharing, repairing and making clothing. You might also try Remade, which describes itself as “a grassroots network of repair social enterprises creating jobs, tackling climate change and reducing inequality”.
Rawnchy is a vegan cafe with a sense of humour that offers a cosy space to munch on raw cakes and dairy-free treats. There’s also Mayze, an award-winning vegan and vegetarian café that uses sustainable packaging and specialises in ethically-sourced coffee.
The Zero Waste Market just east of Glasgow’s Merchant City does what it says in its name - it’s zero waste. Bring along your own container and revel in the lack of plastic. Alternatively, head to Ecomart in the West End, another zero-waste store offering loose fruit and vegetables. Or there’s also Society Zero, a zero-waste supermarket in North Kelvinside.
Get your helmet on and explore the city carbon-free with a bicycle from Bike for Good. This cycling charity and social enterprise has bases at Glasgow's West End on Haugh Road and on the South Side just, off Victoria Road. As well as selling bikes they also do repairs and try to foster "a healthy & inclusive environment where everyone in the community benefits from more people cycling".
Get your artistic fix from The Climate Fringe’s pop-up exhibitions, curated for COP26. Dotted about the city, you will find creative installations in shop windows and other venues. The volunteers and organisers sought to promote local artists as well as Global South artists and activists who were unable to travel to the conference but who face the worst of the climate crisis.
