At a glance
The rise in the city’s refillable culture is spurred by the war on plastic and packaging. With the knowledge that by 2050 our oceans will contain most plastic by weight than fish, a number of zero-waste refillable stores in London have reimagined the supermarket business model. At these dispensaries you can fill your fridge with fresh produce, buy in bulk and return your recycling.
From pet food, natural beauty ingredients and chemical-free cleaning products, fill your jars and containers at these stores.
Where to visit
Hetu, Clapham
Hetu opened its doors in 2017 as London’s first vegan zero waste shop. Founder Laura Boyes was inspired by Australia’s package free shopping mentality and imported these principles to the Clapham based store with the motivation to put planet and purpose before profit. Cupboard staples like grains, cereals and pulses line the walls and sit alongside their organic wine on tap services. Here, 750 millilitre glass bottles are provided and you can decant your favourite merlot or pinot grigio to take home – all wines are vegan certified. Hetu specialises in natural shampoos and conditioners where they have collaborated with Cole and Co, a natural beauty brand who hand make products in Wales – prices are determined by volume where you will pay £1.40 per 100 millilitres.
Their partnership with recycling company First Mile means that all materials used in the store including plastic, papers and food are collected and disposed of correctly. Laura’s sustainability approach has meant that 80 percent of Hetu’s fixtures and fittings are upcycled from preloved materials.

Bulk Market, Hackney
At this Hackney based food dispensary and social enterprise, fill your empty containers of your favourite foodstuff where you are charged by weight. Fear not if you forget your tubs as you can purchase within the store. Be sure to make use of their in-house nut butter machine, frozen take-home options and the DIY Beauty Bar. At this station, you can replenish natural beauty essentials including mineral clays, oils, and bath salts and the team provide a dedicated cosmetic recipe book to concoct your own lotions.
With a focus on low waste, Bulk Market run a composting scheme and partner with TerraCycle – the company dedicated to recycling hard materials for items that would otherwise end up in landfill. If you pop into the store on Sunday, check out the Hackney Vegan Village which takes place opposite. Bulk Market is a stone’s throw from Hackney Central Overground.

BYO Refill Station, Tooting Broadway Market
Between Tooting Broadway Market’s stalls, restaurants and bars you can find the BYO Refill Station, an independent store opened by Tanya De Afoenseca in 2018. This space south of the river was created to replenish your groceries without packaging. Weigh your jars outside of the station and make note of the initial total before entering the shop. The team provide containers and paper bags to purchase for your food essentials. Classic items like oats will set you back 40p for 100 grams and you can discover unusual options such as the sunflower mince made from milled organic sunflower seeds. Alongside BYO’s food offering are lifestyle items including plastic free razors, cosmetic konjac sponges, natural dish scrubs and wax food wraps. Conscious cleaners can rejoice at the dispensary area dedicated to natural laundry detergents as well as window and glass cleaner.
Customers can enjoy the station’s free library shelf where you are encouraged to leave and take books.

Mother Earth, Newington Green
A ten-minute walk from Canonbury Overground lies Mother Earth, a food shop selling ethical and organic goods. Established in 1990, the store has combined refillable shopping with providing vegetarian produce for the last 3 decades. Split in half, one room is devoted to stocking up on wholefoods free from packaging and the other is dedicated to artisan, ethical fair-trade brands. Delight your taste buds at their deli counter and choose from local artisan cheeses and homemade truffles. Gluten free options are also available. We recommend ordering a coffee and head to the back where you’ll find the Mother Earth secret garden. If you’re in the neighbourhood, don’t miss the Newington Green Fruit and Vegetable store next-door to for unusual organic farmed produce. Mother Earth has two smaller stores situated in Stoke Newington and Highbury and Islington.

Harmless, Hornsey
Tami Jarvis is the mastermind behind this refillable store which is on a mission to reduce the rate of animal deaths caused by the irresponsible disposal of plastic.
Easily accessible from Hornsey train station, at Harmless you can purchase your everyday commodities in bulk alongside vegan food staples like plant-based meats. Pasta fanatics are advised to take the trip north for their ever-changing selection where organic orzo, penne and gluten free options are available for 45p per 100 grams. The variety extends to beverages where for £1.20 per 100 millilitres, you can fill up on menu specials like the rhubarb mint kombucha and make your own nut butters. Customers with pets can restock on pet food sold by the kilo and vegan dog treats. Durable containers and bottles can be purchased on site if you leave yours at home. Harmless successfully crowdfunded in 2019 and expanded to a larger space in Blue House Yard which hosts a vegan market on Sundays.

Earth Natural Foods, Kentish Town
Created in 2006 by three health food fanatics Gillian, Yannis and John, Earth Natural Foods has become north London’s leading independent wholefoods retailer. The store is famed on the Kentish Town Road for their approach to minimising waste and their organic produce.
If you’re stumped on what to take home in your containers, be sure to explore the array of unusual herbs and artisan olive oils. For those low on coffee, choose from a selection of Fairtrade beans for £2 per 100g, which you can grind in-store. Raid the shelves for condiments and sauces from ethically sourced brands as well as organic wines and local ales. All fruit and vegetables are sold loose and sourced from farms in neighbouring counties like Kent. Peckish customers can dig into Earth Natural Food’s counter selection of fresh salads, locally baked breads and vegan pastries. Wheat and gluten free options are available and the store provides 100 percent compostable bags.

As Nature Intended, Multiple locations
If you’re in west London and need to combine a larger supermarket shop with replenishing your refillable food groceries, As Nature Intended is your go to. Founder of Iceland, Sir Malcolm Walker established the store in 2000 to provide customers with organic foods free from genetic modification, herbicides and artificial flavours. Fish and meat are only sourced from the UK and their designated bulk sections cater to all whether you are in search of legumes, seeds, dried fruits or olives. Natural lifestyle products are available to purchase in bulk to reduce household plastic including E Cover – the leading brand in ecological cleaning. If you are search of plant-based toiletries, their range is plentiful and includes Faith In Nature, a company who specialise in biodegradable formulas in 100 percent recycled and recyclable bottles. The team’s operational sustainability initiatives have seen them phase out single use plastic bags while fruit and vegetable displays are entirely packaging free. Top up your everyday necessities in one of the eight As Nature Intended across the city.

Planet Organic, Multiple locations
Whole Foods, Multiple locations
If you enjoyed this article, take a look at how we can turn the tide on plastic and read about Britain’s exporting plastic problem.
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