By Kristian Løvstad
Zero waste shops have become very popular over the past few years, and there is one in almost every city in the country. Leeds is no different, as there are several shops across the city that has a zero-waste policy.
We met the manager of Panda Refills zero waste shop, located in Kirkgate Market in Leeds City Centre, to talk about their business, what it stands for, and how they have managed to get through a turbulent year.
“We aim to include everyone and give everyone a pleasant experience when going to a zero-waste shop.”
Panda Refill, Leeds
You can probably tell by the name of the shop, but Panda Refills doesn’t use any plastic packaging at all. When you come to the shop, you bring your own containers and buy just as much as you need, which is both economical and environmentally friendly.
You can buy everything from food to soaps and oils, and if you’re buying any of the latter, it would be smart to bring an old shampoo bottle. There is also an option to shop online and collect in store, which has helped the business during the pandemic.
“We aim to include everyone and give everyone a pleasant experience when going to a zero-waste shop,” is the first thing the manager said when asked what they aim to do with the shop.
Most of their products are sourced locally, but it’s not always easy as they sell a variety of different products. Soaps are an example of a product that is difficult to source locally, but at the very least they do their best to keep it UK-based. They buy their products from other eco-friendly brands and local businesses, keeping in line with the policy and ethos of Panda Refills.
The last year has been a tumultuous one for all local, independent businesses, and it has been no different for Panda Refills. During the first lockdown in late March 2020, they had to go entirely online for a period of time, which is where their online store really helped them out.
Panda Refills were also able to stay open during the rest of the lockdowns, considering they are viewed as an essential business.
“If we hadn’t been able to stay open, we wouldn’t be able to carry on,” is what the manager of the shop said regarding the different lockdowns. She also said that the most important thing they have learnt over the past year is to adapt. With restrictions and lockdown rules changing quickly, it has been important to adapt to the current situation to be able to survive as an independent business.
“We reopened in November in Kirkgate Market, and since then we have seen steady growth.” Seeing local businesses grow during such a difficult time is encouraging, and with everything slowly but surely getting back to normal, the future looks even better for Panda Refills.