Words by Smiley Team
Hoping to rid your bins of waste and shop in a way that supports food producers, animals and nature? Sustainability in the grocery industry is a mounting area of public pressure, and thanks to the demands of consumers the positive news is that there are plenty of eco-friendly grocery stores available. To help you make the best choices for people and the planet, here are our favourite options for sustainable food shopping and zero waste grocery stores in the UK.
Leading sustainability in the grocery industry, Marks & Spencers is ranked by The Ethical Consumer as the best performing major supermarket. Among its achievements so far, the retailer has eliminated 2,000 tonnes of plastic packaging and collects hard plastic from customers to turn into children’s playground equipment. It sources all its products made from palm oil, one of the most predominant ingredients, from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. This organisation regulates palm oil farming to break the product’s link to deforestation.
Ranked as the UK’s most sustainable supermarket by The Ethical Consumer, Unicorn is a cooperative in Manchester that is shining the light on sustainable food shopping. They set an example by avoiding animal products altogether, sourcing mainly fair trade food and promoting a co-operative spirit among their workers and the local community.
For a nominal membership fee, The Good Club offers discounted prices and free delivery on packaging-free products to help you go zero waste. Just imagine the satisfaction of never having to take out the bins ever again! In addition, the company prioritises “good food, fair wages, paying tax, cutting emissions, reducing waste and most of all; making sustainable products accessible to everyone in society.” The online store offers daily essentials across the categories of food, drink, household goods and toiletries. Purchases arrive on your doorstep in reusable boxes and pots, which you can empty into your own containers and leave outside for the delivery drivers to collect the next day.
Prioritising fair trade foods from across the world and offering a platform for UK-based businesses, the Ethical Superstore is another leader for sustainability in the grocery industry. The retailer strives to keep its environmental impact as low as possible and to promote fair wages that tackle global poverty. They also partner with charities to encourage customers to donate when they reach the online checkout.
Veganism could be the “single biggest way” for individuals to reduce their carbon footprint, according to a study by the University of Oxford. On this premise, The Vegan Kind Supermarket distributes over 5,000 vegan and cruelty free products around the UK. The small, family-run business also donates money to animal-related charities each month, with their total contribution reaching over £30,000 since their launch in 2013.
