ZERO waste supermarket The Eco Larder opened in Edinburgh yesterday following a £5000 award from social enterprise development agency, Firstport.
Matthew Foulds, co-founder of the Haymarket business, was one of 11 social entrepreneurs to receive a share of £54,000 funding as part of the Scottish Government’s Social Entrepreneurs Fund.
Delivered by Firstport, the fund has made 618 awards and distributed £4.76 million across Scotland since 2009, and is designed to endorse individuals with innovative, environmentally-friendly business ideas.
Foulds said: “Firstport and the Start It grant have been fundamental to us achieving our target of opening in 2018. We can’t wait to open our doors and to give the Edinburgh community the choice of reducing its plastic footprint, speeding up the change that needs to happen for our future.”
Matthew and his wife Stephanie decided to set up the Eco Larder in early 2018, in an attempt to make it easier for Edinburgh residents to reduce their plastic waste footprint. The shop is dedicated to being totally package-free.
Foulds added: “Through our fully dedicated zero waste, plastic and package free mini supermarket, our aim is to reduce plastic waste filling up our oceans and to create a greener planet.”
The zero waste movement encourages the redesign, recycling and reuse of materials and products, in order to limit the amount of rubbish sent to landfill, for incineration or in the ocean.
Alison Wood with Edinburgh project LilyPads was also awarded £5000, as well as Glasgow’s Sumauua Usmani with Kaleyard CIC and Andy McGovern with Greenheart Growers.
Josiah Lockhart, chief executive of Firstport, said: “Public awareness of the environmental issues caused by plastic pollution is on the rise.
“Not surprisingly, we’re seeing a growing number of individuals looking at social enterprise as a sustainable route to tackle the problem.
“From zero waste shops, to sustainable growing projects, to reusable sanitary pads, these start-up businesses are paving the way for change – and we’re delighted to be supporting them.”
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