AFTER introducing their Zero Waste Pet Food Refill Station last August, Pets Pantry in Stockton Heath, have been recognised for a Plastic Free Warrington Award.
Since then they have been working on further measures to reduce their single use plastic.
As founder and owner of Pets Pantry, Karen Hodgkins says she is “extremely proud” to have been recognised by Plastic Free Warrington.
She said: “Plastic and its plight on our planet has been on my radar for many years and when last year I went on a three months volunteering sabbatical, in Thailand on Marine & Coral Conservation also included, beach cleans, and micro plastic surveys. This very much highlighted to me the damage that, single use plastic does to the oceans and its wildlife and ultimately for us as humans.
“So on an even greater mission on my return, I introduced our Zero Waste Refill station in store, where customers can bring their own containers to fill up on Cat, Dog, Rabbit, Budgie & Wild bird foods. This has been a great success with many customers preferring to refill rather than take more packaging. If we had more space in store, I would increase this service.
“We have also looked at other areas of our business with view to reducing our single use plastic and have made further alterations. Our own pre-weighed packaging, we are in the process of phasing in, paper packaging. We already upcycle the cardboard boxes, that our deliveries arrive in, for customers to carry their goods home or for local deliveries. We re-used & refilled plastic tubs where we can and hope to introduce a carrier bag boomerang scheme. Bring one back if you do take one, and will not be purchasing anymore carrier bags once initial stock has gone.
“Our team have made changes too, we all have reusable drinks cups & water containers, we have our milk delivery in glass bottles. Bar soap, replaces dispenser’s, washable cloths, instead of wipes and we use refill stations for cleaning fluids where we can. Our changes will be ongoing through where we can switch to non-plastic are aim is to do so.
“We are elated to have been named the 2nd Plastic Free Champion in Warrington and are looking forward to the arrival of our award, so we can proudly display in our store. The organisation Plastic Free Communities – Surfer against Sewage who have bestowed this award to Pets Pantry, is a great initiative that encourages businesses to think about the single use plastic they use and how it can be reduced, reused, refilled and recycled.
“We look forward to continue championing this in store.”
More details can be found about Plastic Free Warrington here https://www.facebook.com/plasticfreewarrington/
