The Eco Larder is Crowdfunding

It's #plasticfreejuly and as a Plastic Free Supermarket we are ready to help more people reduce their waste!

Since opening The Eco Larder's doors in Edinburgh back in November 2018, we have been on a mission to share, educate and deliver a plastic free, zero waste revolution for the city.

The response has seen us reach milestones we couldn't have imagined on day one. We have seen over 35,000 shoppers come through the door, armed with their Eco Spirit and refillable containers. We have saved well over 200,000 pieces of single use packaging from entering our landfills. Furthermore, we have delivered monthly beach cleans and over 100 donation based sustainability events (pre covid!). Such simple solutions for incredible results.

It's community that drives this effort and wowzers do we have an amazing community! We see support every day from chats and smiles in store to heartwarming messages for our cargo bike couriers and countless likes and shares online. As a Community Interest Company (CIC), this coming together of spirit really inspires us to make The Eco Larder so much more. This crowdfunding will allow the plastic free project to grow into new communities, making another Zero Waste Store in Edinburgh with a difference, but we need your help.

What will the crowdfunding achieve?

A greener economy is close, to use a COVID term a 'New-Norm' is possible. By creating a second location we can simply influence this shift faster. 

A successful crowdfunding, will help us secure premises and kit out the store with all the necessary machinery, Zero Waste fixtures and equipment that allows our store to operate currently, and yes that means peanut butter machine as standard!

If we go above and beyond our all or nothing target and head into stretch target territory, the first extra approximately £2400 will pay for an extra set of self-serve scales, so there will be two in addition to the till, for people to use in the shop.

If we raise a further approximately £2400 we will get an extra nut butter machine - this will make two in total high quality machines so we can have two varieties of nut butter at any time.

Whilst the new location is not confirmed yet, we are actively seeking, and will locate ourselves in an area that gives Zero Waste shopping to new Edinburgh residents.

We are also now fully committed to our Cargo Bike Delivery service Zero Waste style. 'Why drive when we cycle' is our motto and so far during lockdown we have delivered hundreds of grocery shops to isolated people, but also to customers who simply don't need/want to drive. An investment in this service will let us become more innovative with our approach to delivering zero waste and zero emissions. Expect to see The Eco Larder cargo bike team wizzing around :).

With your help today, Plastic Free grocery shopping in Edinburgh is moving in permanently. 

Buy Local, Buy Social 

We want to make ethical and responsible business mainstream. We want to help create an environment where responsible trading for social and environmental purposes is widely known and we want it to be the first choice of communities wanting to help themselves - making Social Enterprise as accepted as Fairtrade.

We prioritise locally grown produce and locally made products where we can, to support other small businesses. We will also work hard to ensure that our products are sustainable in their production, transport and packaging, and that they come from ethical and cruelty free producers. We will always strive to choose the lowest waste, most ethical products, and make them as affordable as possible to our community. 

How else can you help or be involved?

Like and share our cause on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter

Talk about us and spread the word

Shop with us in our current shop on 200 Morrison Street.  

Should you choose to pledge today, please be aware that there is an OPT OUT tip option at the end of your transaction. 

The Eco Larder understand that Crowdfunder need to make money during COVID-19 however we are aware that a number of people have tipped inadvertently - The Eco Larder encourages you to leave a tip and support our friends at Crowdfunder as we are getting the benefit of 0% fundraising fees - however we want to make sure that you’re aware of this ‘optional tip’, and that you select the amount that suits you. We would suggest 5% as that is what we paid Crowdfunder the last time we fund-raised with them. 

Thank you so much to Charles Seed Media for volunteering his time and skills to create our Crowdfunding video. 

Thank you to Toria Creative for our wonderful new logo as well! 

Thank you to all the amazing volunteers who support The Eco Larder day in day out. 

And finally thank you to all those who are part of The Eco Larder's journey so far. 

Love and gratitude,

The Eco Larder