CELEBRATING A YEAR OF GOOD CHOICES

Bridge of Allan business owners Pilar Amieva and Stuart Leathley are celebrating a year running the town’s first zero waste store.

Since opening The Good Choice last summer, the couple estimate that they have helped save over 1,700 plastic bottles from landfill.

Pilar said: “Recent figures from Greenpeace show that just 12% of plastic gets recycled in the UK. By offering locals a wide range of plastic-free groceries on their doorstep, we’re helping them reduce their household plastic waste.

“Refills of laundry and cleaning products have proved incredibly popular, as have dried goods such as pasta.

“We offer a drop off service where people can drop in their containers to fill while they run errands, go for a walk or a coffee. This has been a big hit.”

Pilar and Stuart have expanded the shop’s product range over the past 12 months to include over 800 glass, compostable or paper packaged products.

Pilar added: “As well as bottles, we’ve helped save over 2000 plastic wrappers from being thrown in the bin, and we’ve sold a staggering amount of local eggs too, nearly 10,000 – saving over 800 egg cartons from being thrown away.

“Most of our customers bring their own box to be refilled and they can buy as many or as little as they wish – which also helps cut down food waste.”

The Good Choice is open Monday to Saturday at 62 Henderson Street, Bridge of Allan.

View their full Forth Valley Food and Drink showcase here.