As we kick off into Plastic Free July, are you going to join the two million people around the world wanting to kick plastic waste to the curb?
With the fight against plastic full steam ahead, what better time to take part in this positive movement and start moving towards a zero waste life. We’ve put together a list of brands who can help you to go plastic-free in Singapore & Hong Kong.
By now you probably know the stats, there are 8 million tonnes of plastic dumped into our oceans each year, by 2050 there will be most plastic in our oceans by weight than fish, in Singapore alone, we use over 2.2 million straws every day. You could say we’re drowning in this not so fantastic product. The good news is you can be part of the solution, join the cause and together we can drastically reduce the amount of plastic ending up in landfills, our oceans or incinerators. It’s time to go plastic free.
ONLINE:
NOW NO WASTE
Reusable & compostable products
– online, ships regionally
Find out more here | Shop online here SG$3-67 OR HK$15-380
NOW No Waste is a one-stop shop for all your reusable and compostable products to replace the daily disposables. Get all your essentials and know that these products are ethical, reduce plastic waste, use recyclable packaging, are BPA free and where possible, designed in France and made in China, reducing their carbon footprint.
What’s available – almost all the reusables that you need – starter kits, collapsible water bottles, metal and glass straws, snack bags, coffee cups, cutlery cases, washable dish sponges, bamboo toothbrushes, washable cleansing wipes, solid – soaps, shampoos, toothpaste and deodorants.
LIVE ZERO
Hong Kong’s first Zero waste bulk food store
– At 24 High Street, Sai Ying Pun and ships regionally
Visit Hong Kong shop here | Shop online here HK$15-299
Featuring a ton of package-free organic food options, daily essentials and products to help you achieve a zero-waste lifestyle. Head on down with your containers and fill em on up with virtually all your non-fresh produce! If you don’t have containers, not to worry you have options at the store.
What’s available – Bulk items: flours and baking needs (with some gluten-free options), beverages (including fresh almond milk, teas, coffee), beans and legumes, grains, dried fruits, vegan butters, dips and sauces, nuts and seeds, oats and cereals, oils and syrups, pasta, superfood powders, spices and herbs, cleaning products (dish, glass, laundry, floor), toiletries/cosmetics (including argan oil, body and hair soap, cleansers, sunscreen, toothpaste), eco paint.
Reusables: Facial rounds, washcloths, menstrual cups, razors, toothbrushes, deodorant cream, bottles, straws, beeswax wraps, lunchboxes.
SKINCARE CO
Zero-waste solid shampoo and conditioner
– online, ships regionally
Find out more here | Shop online here
Specialising in plastic-free cosmetics, Skincare Co produces a line of biodegradable shampoo bars for all hair types. Reduce your packaging with these handmade, solid shampoo and conditioner bars, that gently cleanse, condition, soothe and add shine!
What’s available – mint, lavender, rose.
LUSH
Fresh handmade cosmetics
– Online, ships regionally or in store
Visit Shop in Singapore or in Hong Kong | Shope online here
Discover an ocean of plastic free, naked innovation and alternative packaging with Lush’s range of low waste cosmetics. Their cosmetics are 100% vegetarian, ethically made, no animal testing, handmade and mostly naked packaging.
What’s available – soaps, solid shampoos, solid face wash, solid body scrubs, solid bath oils, bath bombs, toothpaste tabs, mouthwash tabs, massage bars, solid deodorant, solid perfume, hair honey styling bar.
SINGAPORE:
UNPACKT
Singapore’s first zero waste bulk food store
-At 6 Jalan Kuras, Sembawang
Visit the Singapore store here
UnPackt helps you solve the problem of food waste and excessive plastic packaging while saving you money on your weekly grocery bill. They offer you the luxury of quality-assured food and daily lifestyle products in your own containers so you are free from plastic waste.
What’s available – Bulk items: snacks (e.g. chips and cacao nibs), olive and coconut oil, vinegars, nuts and seeds, seasoning and spices, superfood powders, dried fruits, pasta and rice, beans and legumes, flour, cereals, honey, tea and coffee, biscuits, soaps, liquid shampoo and conditioner, tooth powder, mosquito repellant, floor cleaner, laundry powder and liquid, pet shampoo.
Reusables: straws, collapsible cups, lunch boxes, containers.
THE SOCIAL SPACE
Multi-purpose store promoting low waste
Visit the Singapore store
– At 333 Kreta Ayer Road, Chinatown
A multi-concept social enterprise promoting low-waste conscious living and inclusive employment. Shop fair trade products while you enjoy a coffee and stock up on bulk cleaning products and daily essentials.
What’s available – Bulk items: liquid shampoo and conditioner, handwash, dishwasher liquid, soap and pet shampoo.
Reusables: bamboo fiber cups, straws, beeswax wraps, soapnuts, natural fruit and vegetable storage bag, snack bags, lunch bags.
THE GREEN COLLECTIVE
Green pop-up store for sustainable goods & reusables
Visit the Singapore Store
– OneKM Mall, Paya Lebar
Over a dozen homegrown eco-conscious brands have teamed up to bring you this collective concept store. You can find a range of sustainable products, including a few excellent reusable items, not to mention meet the founders behind the brand and enjoy workshops.
What’s available – Bulk items: Castille soaps.
Reusables: cutlery with cases, straws with cases, collapsible lunch boxes, collapsible cups, reusable bags, bamboo straws.
SCOOP WHOLEFOODS SINGAPORE
The largest organic and bulk natural wholefoods store in Asia
Visit the Singapore Store
– Tanglin Mall, Orchard
A family-run, Australian business makes its debut in Asia with this sustainable and environmentally-friendly bulk food store that supports local suppliers and producers.
What’s available – Bulk items: nuts, salts, spices, oils, berries, chocolates, etc.
Specials: Fresh Organic Kombucha on tap, pure raw Australian honeycomb,
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HONG KONG:
LIVE ZERO
Hong Kong’s first 100% plastic packaging free, full range bulk grocery store (& now bulk beauty too!)
– ships to HK & internationally, stores at Sai Ying Pun and Sai Kung
Visit Hong Kong shops here | Shop online here
LIVE ZERO is Hong Kong’s first zero waste bulk food store, featuring a ton of packaging free items, daily essentials and products to help you live zero waste.
What’s available – Bulk items: liquids, grains, seeds, beans, pasta, spices, fruits, herbs, nuts, seasonings, and more.
Beauty & household items: shampoos, deodorant bars, multi-purpose cleaners, soaps, lip balms, bamboo toothbrushes, aromatherapy roller blends and more.
Reusables: beeswax wraps, reusable razors, water bottles, reusable coffee cups, silicone pouches, metal straws, unpaper towels, and more.
SL…OWOOD
One of a kind healthy products
– At Kennedy Town
Visit Hong Kong shop here
SLOWOOD endeavours to explore with you a genuinely sustainable and organic lifestyle. The slow living grocery store stocks products hand-picked from New Zealand, Canada, the Netherlands, and more, featuring lifestyle products, bulk foods, natural skincare, kitchenware, homeware, and more.
What’s available – Bulk items: granola, cereals, eggs, nuts, etc.
Refillables: cleaning products, skincare, etc.
EDGAR
Bulk foods store & reusable products
– ships to HK & China, store at Star Street Precinct, G/F, 5 Moon Street, Wanchai
Visit Hong Kong shop here | Shop online here HK$3-320
Bulk food and reusable product store Edgar stocks European natural, organic and fair trade products in bulk for minimum carbon footprint. Bring your own containers and fill up on stables or purchase in the store. Be socially and environmentally responsible and further your zero waste journey here.
What’s available – Bulk items: biscuits, cereals, grains, seasoning, pasta, rice dried fruit, nuts and seeds, chocolate, teas.
Reusables: containers, food bags, straws and brushes, bottles, cutleries.
SEED
Bulk grocery store & zero waste store
– At 29 Yee Kuk Street, Sai Kung
Visit Hong Kong shop here
Short of ‘Saving the Earth Every Day’ they want to plant little seeds of ideas in people’s mind to protect the environment. Every little bit helps! More than just providing you and your family with the daily necessities, they aim to choose products that are good for our bodies and Earth. In an effort to be low waste, most of their products are sold package free, so do BYO containers or select from their new or reused ones.
REGENCY SPICES
Bulk spice store & online store
– online & in Tsuen Wan
Visit the Hong Kong warehouse here | Shop online here *
Regency Spices want to bring back quality herbs and spices to your kitchen and table. They want to make cooking with the best ingredients possible for everyone by Providing top quality spices and dry ingredients to home cooks and restaurants around Hong Kong.
What’s available – a huge selection of herbs and spices from around the world, dried fruits and nuts.
* If you order online request for your items to be delivered in paper packaging instead of plastic or drop into their warehouse with your own container.
MR SIMMS OLDE SWEET SHOPPE
Nostalgic sweets weighed by hand
– At 37 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, 38 Spring Garden Lane, Wanchai and the Peak
Visit the Hong Kong stores here
What’s available – a huge selection of sweets and confectionary which you can buy package free.
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WHEN IN DOUBT…
So there you have it, our guide to go plastic free in Singapore and Hong Kong so you can embrace a lower waste or even zero waste life. If you are not living in these two cities or are heading on a trip, check out this great app to find bulk stores near you today.
When in doubt, remember these 5 Rs from Zero Waste Home:
- Refuse what you do not need.
- Reduce what you do need.
- Reuse by using reusables.
- Recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce, or reuse.
- Rot (compost) the rest.
Little daily actions lead to big changes to your impact, and collectively we can change the status quo and kick our plastic addictions.
If you know any other great options get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.