Entrepreneurial local pupils are waving goodbye to plastic pollution after opening three eco-refill shops at local primary schools.
The new shops mean parents can refill household essentials without creating plastic waste at Saint John Walham Green primary school in Fulham, Melcombe primary school in Fulham and Larmenier and Sacred Heart primary school in Hammersmith.
Cllr Sharon Holder, Mayor of H&F, praised the students and their environmental efforts by saying:
These remarkable young people are leading the charge in our fight against plastic pollution. Their passion and commitment to keeping our borough clean and green is truly inspiring."
Parents can now stock up on unpackaged household essentials such as laundry detergent, washing up liquid and handwash following the success of H&F's first eco-refill shop, which opened at St John XXIII Catholic primary school last year.
All the products are UK-made, ethically sourced, cruelty-free, vegan and affordable.
Beyond the school gate
Pupils at Saint John Walham Green primary school launched their shop – called 'Bubble Up' – in January. Forty-four pupils run the shop after school on the last Tuesday of each month. They're in charge of everything from sales and budgeting to marketing and inventory management.
On opening day, parents queued to refill their containers with hand soap, body wash, hair shampoo and conditioner, laundry liquids and washing up liquid.
The shop has already saved more than 300 containers from waste since opening.
More shops planned
Meanwhile, Melcombe primary school recently opened their shop with the help of 17 children. The shop is open after school on the last Friday of the month.
The group saved 50 containers from waste at their launch day alone, which they will reinvest into more eco-friendly stock while returning empty bulk containers to the manufacturers for reuse.
Melcombe has expanded the offering to include hand soap bars, home recyclable paper, packaged healthy snacks alongside traditional household refills.
Two more refill stations are planned to open at Greenside and Brackenbury primary schools in the autumn term, bringing the total to six schools across the borough.
