Designing London’s Recovery
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2695 Londoners have responded | 08/09/2022 - 16/10/2022
Discussions
Refill shops in schools
City Hall is supporting innovators to develop solutions to some of the challenges in London.
One of the innovators is testing refill shops based in schools. Refill shops are shops where customers can bring in their own containers to refill items rather than buying pre-packaged items.
The shops will be staffed by children, and will sell hand wash, body wash, laundry liquid, and washing up liquid. Shops will be open to parents and carers of the pupils, and potentially to local residents.
The innovators hope that refill shops in a convenient location will encourage parents and carers to reduce plastic waste by shopping there.
Tell us what you think in the discussion below:
- What do you think of this approach?
- Would you use a refill shop based in a school near you? Why or why not?
- What would encourage you to shop there?
- How else could we encourage refill shopping within the local community?
The discussion ran from 05 September 2022 - 17 October 2022
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Log into your accountCedders
Community Member 3 years agoI think the idea should be supported if people want to do it, but I responded on the survey that I would be unlikely to use it myself. I don't have children, and already have access to refill shops at independent grocers and organic food...
Show full commentI think the idea should be supported if people want to do it, but I responded on the survey that I would be unlikely to use it myself. I don't have children, and already have access to refill shops at independent grocers and organic food shops.
Show less of commentcparkus
Community Member 3 years agoExact locations and opening hours, product availability needs to be easily searchable eg on Google maps.
HRTooting
Community Member 3 years agoA rather superficial and minority approach. Better to mainstream the idea into the real world so that more people can take part.
helenmendelson
Community Member 3 years agoIt's a great idea, but the products in refill shops are more expensive, so I can't see it being very popular with life in London being so cripplingly expensive
Show full commentIt's a great idea, but the products in refill shops are more expensive, so I can't see it being very popular with life in London being so cripplingly expensive
Show less of commentJohnW
Community Member 3 years agoThe problem is not re-cycling but producing the waste in the first place. Companies produce packaging because it is convenient for their delivery systems, they should be fined for not looking at waste in the first place. Wrapping boxes of...
Show full commentThe problem is not re-cycling but producing the waste in the first place. Companies produce packaging because it is convenient for their delivery systems, they should be fined for not looking at waste in the first place. Wrapping boxes of biscuits in plastic to stop them falling off pallets is the problem. Fruit and veg in supermarkets is sold in plastic containers for convenience, companies like Amazon should be required to collect cardboard they use.
Show less of commentCedders
Community Member 3 years agoGood points. Requirements for 'extended producer responsibility' are coming in, but they should go further. While they haven't, are refill shops in schools a good idea?
Cking
Community Member 3 years agoA very good idea, both to help reduce waste of plastics, help parents buy relatively heavy goods at a convenient place, but also to help raise awareness in children in the schools
Kirsty
Community Member 3 years agoGreat idea. Would be convenient to use, and good experience for the children. Could help to develop greater awareness of the need to reduce plastics, and provide an accessible and local source of plastic free products. Issues such as...
Show full commentGreat idea. Would be convenient to use, and good experience for the children. Could help to develop greater awareness of the need to reduce plastics, and provide an accessible and local source of plastic free products. Issues such as safeguarding would need to be overcome of course if access is wider than parents.
Show less of commentK1300
Community Member 3 years agoQ. How else could we encourage refill shopping within the local community?
Show full commentA. You leave it to the retail market.
This is a solution looking for a problem and is, quite frankly, outside your terms of reference.
Q. How else could we encourage refill shopping within the local community?
Show less of commentA. You leave it to the retail market.
This is a solution looking for a problem and is, quite frankly, outside your terms of reference.
K1300
Community Member 3 years agoSchools are for education. Running quasi-shops within using unpaid staff seems alien. Why would young people want adults on site intruding in their space? Why would adults want to intrude in young peoples' space. A strange notion indeed.
Show full commentSchools are for education. Running quasi-shops within using unpaid staff seems alien. Why would young people want adults on site intruding in their space? Why would adults want to intrude in young peoples' space. A strange notion indeed.
Show less of commentlauramolonlabe
Community Member 3 years agoIt's a good idea and schools are generally in residential areas- so a convenient place to shop. Good prices, and excellent quality goods would encourage me to shop there- merely cutting down on plastic is not enough of an incentive.
aitchey.m
Community Member 3 years agoHaving no children, I would not go to schools to shop and would feel uncomfortable shopping anywhere employing children.
K1300
Community Member 3 years agoEven worse the children are not employed (it is again the law) they are volunteers.
Show full commentEven worse the children are not employed (it is again the law) they are volunteers.
Show less of commentaev22
Community Member 3 years agoI think this is a great idea to encourage more people to use a refill shop. However, as a local resident without a child, I'd hope we'd also have refill food shops for local residents and parents/carers.
Shakhana
Community Member 3 years agoI am not a parent of school children or a carer and I have no need to visit a school. I visit refillable at Peoples Pantry or a couple of shops in Muswell Hill that have refillable.
Amanda Powell
Community Member 3 years agoJust tell me where and I will be there as well as spread the word. Brilliant idea. I do everything I can not to buy any plastic containers and its not very convenient . I have to use my car to go to the refill shop as its too heavy to carry...
Show full commentJust tell me where and I will be there as well as spread the word. Brilliant idea. I do everything I can not to buy any plastic containers and its not very convenient . I have to use my car to go to the refill shop as its too heavy to carry and is at a distance ( I hate using my car in London ) . The product quality would be important though.
Show less of commentnicolaevans763
Community Member 3 years agoNot relevant to me and have other good refill shops nearby
gruffalo54
Community Member 3 years agoAgree with some other comments that this is a great idea but real effort would need to be made to attract people in the local community who aren't parents/carers of kids in the school, to maximise the opportunity.
Show full commentAgree with some other comments that this is a great idea but real effort would need to be made to attract people in the local community who aren't parents/carers of kids in the school, to maximise the opportunity.
Show less of commentMariaEl
Community Member 3 years agoWe need more Bulk/Refill stores in Westminster and across London . To reduce unnecessary plastics and general waste. To educate not just children but all on how important the issue is. At present ONLY 7% of plastics in the UK are sent for...
Show full commentWe need more Bulk/Refill stores in Westminster and across London . To reduce unnecessary plastics and general waste. To educate not just children but all on how important the issue is. At present ONLY 7% of plastics in the UK are sent for actual recycling. People are unaware that most plastics packaging isn't recycled but ends in a landfil. Despite residents best efforts.
Show less of commentFranFeltham
Community Member 3 years agoProbably not as with adult children I don't go into schools and the local refill shops are just as convenient. However, I think it might be a good idea for parents/carers.
locksocrates
Community Member 3 years agoSchools tend to be isolated and gated - I’d need parking as when I shop I buy a lot - I wound not use a facility without car parking
Show full commentSchools tend to be isolated and gated - I’d need parking as when I shop I buy a lot - I wound not use a facility without car parking
Show less of commentPhili
Community Member 3 years agoI think this is a good idea for those areas that do not already have a refill store nearby as we need to make shopping without plastic packaging a real priority.
Show full commentFor those areas where there is already a shop I think the project should be...
I think this is a good idea for those areas that do not already have a refill store nearby as we need to make shopping without plastic packaging a real priority.
Show less of commentFor those areas where there is already a shop I think the project should be worked out with the shop owner being involved in the project so as not to take their business when many of these shops are already struggling.
It would be a great way to reach a wider audience by involving the children who may not get exposure to thinking about this way of shopping at home.