High Street Alternatives…
Ecologue
A one-stop-shop for all inexpensive, natural and sustainable alternatives to everyday disposable plastics. Developed from their travels, owners Sam and Mel saw the sad reality of polluted beaches, oceans and streets and set out to make reducing consumption and environmental effects. Their shop is growing, for now, you can get bamboo toothbrushes, stainless straws, stainless bottles and straw coffee cups.
Stitched-Up
A non-profit cooperative that encourages individuality and sustainability. Based in Chorlton, they have created a haven for crafters, makers and provided a space full to the brim of alternative shops. There are also sewing and upcycling workshops, sustainable fabric sales and clothes swaps. The fast fashion industry has Stitched Up society and the planet, alternative fashion choices such as keeping them in use, swapping, upcycling or repairing help you reduce your carbon footprint and even improves your skills.
Stitched-Up, 527B Wilbraham Rd, Manchester M21 0UF
stitchedup.coop/
Manchester Craft and Design Centre
Home to the studios of some of the regions best artists, designers and makers. It is the perfect place to shop local and support contemporary art, craft and design. There’s plenty of exhibitions and events and even a cafe-bar with home cooked food sourced locally and responsibly.
Manchester Craft and Design Centre, 17 Oak St, Manchester M4 5JD
Plentiful
Greater Manchester’s first zero-waste shop has opened recently, unveiled by Mayor Andy Burnham. Focuses on plastic reduction including plastic-free loo roll to plastic-free skincare.
Plentiful, 8 Silver St, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9BJ
Mindful Store @ Hatch
Mindful Store recently won this year’s Environmental category in the Alliance MBS ‘Venture Further 2019’ awards. It’s a modern-day physical store that lets sustainable brands reach a wider audience and giving sustainable brands the exposure they need. The store will give shoppers the opportunity to discover amazing, innovative and sustainable products. Every product comes with a QR-code that tells customers more about the background story. Mindful Store is due to join Hatch this summer.
Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 7ED
Hulme Community Garden Centre
This non-profit brings the local community together through gardening, providing low-cost plants and an educational hub for sustainability issues with weekly free workshops. They also provide workshops and training for longer-term unemployed people. They pride themselves on organic and peat free herbs, fruit and veg and supporting local suppliers, independents and small businesses as much as possible.
28 Old Birley Street, Greater Manchester, M15 5RF
Where to get Groceries…
The Eighth Day Co-Op
The close of the psychedelic 60s saw a group of friends attempt to create the new order, The Eighth Day. The health-food shop has been a huge selection of veggie, vegan, organic food and Fairtrade food to the city since the 1970s. If that wasn’t enough there is also nutritional health supplements, cruelty-free, natural and organic cosmetics, eco-friendly cleaning products and even vegan alcohol, including a Beatnickz Beer. The cafe is 100% vegetarian and offers a wider range of vegan dishes inspired by food from every continent.
The Eighth Day Co-Op, 111 Oxford Rd, Manchester, M1 7DU
Unicorn Grocery
Based in Chorlton this is an unbeatable range of fresh and wholesome food, that is organic, Fairtrade and/or local produce. This is another workers’ co-operative creating a kind space that values health, quality and affordability and run by motivated worker-owners. There’s an unrivalled choice of organic fruit and veg, deli, organic alcohol and plenty of store cupboard staples.
Unicorn Grocery, 89 Albany Rd, Manchester M21 0BN
A Small Good Thing
A community greengrocers set up by two friends in Bolton with crates of seasonal and fresh fruit and vegetables. The store has pre-packed meal boxes (compostable) to create everything you need for a plastic-free, healthy meal.
A Small Good Thing, 29 Church Road, BL1 6HE Bolton
Village Greens
An organic supermarket in Prestwich with a variety of locally sourced and organic ingredients. They stock affordable, value for money wholefoods offering a range of sizes for all budgets. Our policy is to trade with integrity, offering fair wages, local jobs, volunteer positions, and building sustainable relationships with their suppliers.
Village Greens 1 Longfield Centre, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1AY
McCall’s Organic
The city centres answer to an organic one-stop shop. With a focus on locally sourced and organic fresh ingredients, bring your own container and fill up on cupboard essentials. There is also biodegradable and environmentally friendly cleaning products and cosmetics.
Unit 6-7 Church Street, Manchester, M4 1PN
Village Stores
Levenshulme’s one-stop shop with veg and seasonal fruit sourced from Lancashire and Chesire, health food and eco toiletries. They also have a wide range of plants and pre-packed seasonal veg boxes.
114 Barlow Rd, Manchester M19 3EF
Where to Eat…
Open Kitchen MCR (Formerly Real Junk Food Manchester)
Tackles environmental and social problems using food that would otherwise go to waste feeding bellies – not bins – with delicious meals and dishes. They aim to raise awareness regarding food waste and improve the sustainability of the food system. The new venture sees the offering of catering services for both professional corporate and private clients and also continuing their work with the community and charity partners. This means, that not only can they stop food from being wasted, but they can also help lower the city’s carbon footprint and businesses.
realjunkfoodmanchester.co.uk
07912 509665
Hawksmoor
Not exactly like the vegan and veggie alternative restaurants on the list, however, Hawksmoor is shortlisted as one of the most sustainable restaurants in the country, sourcing food ethically and sustainably. They promote local businesses, sourcing beer from small, local breweries and beef from small, British farms. They have also received accolades from Action Against Hunger for the sizeable donation of £1m to the charity.
Hawksmoor, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB
Friska
Friska has a conscientious and sustainable outlook on everything from ingredients to employees and their partner charities, Deki and Frank water. It is feel-good food made from fresh and locally sourced ingredients served in restaurants fuelled by 100% renewable energy. They donate all unsold food to homeless shelters and are committed to ensuring zero waste goes to landfill.
Friska, Unit 2, Two St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 3LQ
Earth Café
A vegetarian food and juice bar, all made from scratch every day. There are plenty of vegan food options, designed based on what was good at the market that day. Dishes are therefore weather dependent, but always hearty meals.
Earth Café, 16-20 Turner St, Manchester M4 1DZ
The Creameries
Thoughtful and delicious food that is sustainable and ethically sourced. The creameries work with trusted suppliers who share the same values and ethics and where possible using locally sourced produce. Using seasonal menus, they work hard to generate as little waste as possible. Doing good, never tasted so good.
The Creameries, 406 Wilbraham Rd, Manchester M21 0SD
The Allotment Vegan Restaurant
A vegan and gluten-free restaurant that started out as a pop-up in Wigan has named multiple cities home. However, after 2 years based in Manchester, their plant-based dishes using seasonal harvests from local and sustainable growers have given them the claim to numerous awards including the best vegetarian restaurant in the UK 2018 by The Times.
18 – 22 Lloyd Street, Manchester, M2 5WA
