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Sorry, Barbie: life in plastic is not fantastic. In fact it’s incredibly harmful to our planet and ourselves. Millions of tonnes of the stuff end up in the ocean annually, and much of it enters our food chain as microplastics. But here’s a zero-waste enterprise on a mission to reduce London’s plastic footprint.
Bulk Market started life as a Dalston pop-up, stocking 200 types of organic, local and loose produce in retro-sweet-shop-style jars. By shopping at Bulk Market rather than the supermarket, customers support the local social enterprises that stock their wares there – like Dusty Knuckle Bakery, which helps former young offenders become bakers.
Bulk Market Dalston closed in December, and now founder Ingrid Caldironi is crowdfunding to open a permanent site elsewhere in Hackney. You can help Bulk Market secure a permanent space and expand its range of products by donating to its Indiegogo campaign. Plus, the green ethos will be tied into the very design of the new shop, from the upholstery and fittings – created out of stage sets donated by the Royal Opera House and the fixtures – made from yogurt pots and crates.
Rewards range from 10 percent off your first shop to a lifetime discount and your name enshrined on the wall. And if you live locally, make sure to turn up once the new store is open with your tote bags, wicker baskets and glass bottles, and switch to a totally plastic-free shop.
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