A new website dedicated to London’s zero-waste stores launched earlier this week.
Are you one of those people who desperately wants to help the planet but—if you’re being totally honest with yourself—actually finds it quite hard? We’re told time and time again about the problems plastic waste causes, but we’re not always told what we can do about it. But that’s where USELESS comes in!
The site is the first of its kind, and offers an idiot-proof way to discover your local zero-waste shops. You can simply pop in your postcode to find your nearest stores, or explore the map to find them further afield. Each listing is accompanied by information on the stores; including stock, location and opening times.
(See also: London’s First Plastic-Free Takeaway Is Delivering Delicious Curries To East Londoners)
Over 40 shops are available to view already, and this number is expected to grow. Users can even add to the site themselves, providing it passes the ‘Actually Zero Waste’ test.
The whole site is gorgeously illustrated, and the homepage is particularly powerful: it fires some shocking stats at you, but they’re tricky to read due to all the plastic covering the screen. A pop up asks “All this plastic is annoying, isn’t it?” and invites you to use your cursor to try and get rid of it. Of course it’s really f*cking hard, which, frankly, is a scintillating metaphor.
(See also: London Is The Most Plastic Conscious Region In The UK)
The project was designed by creative agency Nice and Serious, who “make nice things to help solve the serious stuff”. The idea for USELESS was born after a lunchtime chat about all the useless plastic that wraps our food, and so many other things that we buy.
Nice and Serious co-founder Tom Tapper says: “It started after a lunch break spent getting increasingly depressed about the sheer amount of single-use plastic in our lives. Someone piped up to say they’d filled their shampoo at a shop down the road… Most of the group didn’t know that was even an option!”
Besides the store guide, you’ll also find some simple tips for reducing your plastic consumption. Just head to ‘The Survival Kit‘ for a directory of plastic-free alternatives for things like deodorant, toothpaste and sanitary items. It’ll give you a little spiel about how these substitutes will benefit the environment, and also tell you exactly where you can purchase them.