The Zero-Waste Shops In Glasgow To Know In 2024

Ditch plastic with this handy guide to all of the zero-waste and refill shops in Glasgow to know.

There’s a huge amount of rivalry between Scotland’s east and west coasts. As someone from the West Coast who now lives on the East Coast, I feel like I’m allowed to sit on the fence. I’d say that both Glasgow and Edinburgh are equally amazing in different ways. I love spending time in both cities. Ask me to choose a favourite, and honestly, it’s like asking me to choose a favourite child. It’s just not going to happen!

I’ve recently put together a guide to zero-waste shops in Edinburgh. So as to not show favouritism to the East Coast, let’s turn our attention to the West Coast, and shine a spotlight on Glasgow’s wide selection of refill and zero-waste shops.

The Zero-Waste Shops In Glasgow To Know

Zero-waste shops across the country are having a hard time. Glasgow has recently lost at least three zero-waste shops – Society Zero on Queen Margaret Drive, Locavore in Garnethill, and Ecomart in Patrick. It’s never been more important to support local zero-waste shops where we can.

Here are my top zero-waste shops in Glasgow to know so you can find your local shop – whether you are a Glasgow local or visiting the city and need to stock up on supplies during your stay.

Locavore Glasgow

As a social enterprise, Locavore exists to help build a more sustainable local food system which is better for the local economy, the environment and the community. Locavore is well established in Glasgow, with two stores in Govanhill and Partick.

Selling a range of zero-waste refill goods, such as loose organic grains, pulses, flours, herbs and spices, just don’t forget to bring your jars and bags! The stores also sell loose fresh local and organic fruit and vegetables. What’s more, they also offer organic and local cheese, dairy and vegan-friendly dairy alternatives.

The Govanhill store also has a café, where you can eat delicious food at the only fully organic place to eat out within Glasgow. The café makes seasonal organic dishes following what is available from its market garden, as well as using up excess produce from the shop to prevent waste.

Find Locavore in Govanhill at 349 Victoria Rd, Glasgow G42 7SA.

Find the Partick store at 449 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, G11 6EJ.

The Good Choice

Mount Florida-based The Good Choice sell organic, local, ethical and plastic-free groceries. This includes pet products, snacks and sweets, personal care, home cleaning, coffee and tea, as well as baking and cooking supplies. Bring your own containers and bags to refill, or click and collect online for convenience.

The Good Choice also offers a vegetable box scheme.

The Good Choice says that tackling waste is vital, but sustainability goes much further. As such, The Good Choice aims to choose products and suppliers that are among other things:

• Environmentally friendly: including natural and organic products 
• Sourced as locally as possible, to reduce transport emissions and support local communities.
• Are socially, environmentally or community-oriented.

Find The Good Store’s zero-waste shop at 1031 Cathcart Rd, Mount Florida, Glasgow G42 9XJ.

Dandy’s Wholefoods

For those in the Clarkston area, the jauntily named Dandy’s Wholefoods caters for most of your refill needs. As well as deli staples, the store also sells refill products. From eco-friendly cleaning products to baking and cooking staples all in refill formats. It also has a milk vending machine selling Mossgiel organic milk.

Find Dandy’s Wholefoods at 44 Busby Road, Clarkston, Glasgow, G76 7XJ.

Roots & Fruits

Roots & Fruits’ main focus is on high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables. As such, this stunning-looking shop is the place to go in the West End to pick up loose fruit and veg, deli staples and fresh bakery goods the plastic-free way.

If you’re not in the West End, the good news is that Roots & Fruits delivers veg boxes all over Glasgow. It has a wide range of deliciously fresh produce that it packs its veg boxes with, for all of your home recipes. 

Roots & Fruits also sells Brose Scottish-made oat milk in glass bottles. Stocking both the Original and Barista styles in the Great Western Road shop, Roots & Fruits runs a deposit and return scheme. When you bring your bottle back you get £1 back and Roots & Fruits send the bottle back to them to be cleaned and reused.

Find Roots & Fruits at 455 Great Western Rd, Glasgow G12 8HH.

Find the Finnieston store at 1137 Argyle St, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8ND.

Fresh ‘N’ Fruity

Whilst not strictly a zero-waste shop, if you are Mount Florida-based, then Fresh ‘N’ Fruity is a great place to stock up on loose fresh fruit and vegetables. With a fantastic selection of fresh produce, alongside non-refill whole foods, fairtrade, organic, vegan, and gluten-free products, it’s a great place to stock up on fresh and tinned essentials.

Find Fresh ‘N’ Fruity at 5 Cumming Drive Mount Florida, Glasgow G42 9AE.

Neighbourhood

For Shawlands locals, Neighbourhood is both a refill and low-impact life store. Home to a wide range of zero-waste refill products – from food to cleaning products, you’ll also find a cafe and bakery, books, gifts, homewares and other ethical lifestyle products.

This dog-friendly shop is very welcoming to your four-legged friends. And if you’re lucky, you might even get to see the owner’s beautiful dog too!

Find Neighbourhood at 8 Skirving Street, Shawlands, Glasgow G41 3AA.

Gavin’s Mill

For those of you living in and around Milngavie, then Gavin’s Mill has a whole host of zero-waste dry foods, cleaning and personal care products.

Bring along any container that you like; a mason jar, jam jar, margarine tub, cotton bag, or whatever you have. Gavin’s Mill says if it can be weighed, it can be used! If you ever forget to bring a container of your own, you could use one of Gavin’s Mill’s donated jars or paper bags.

Housed in a former corn mill, Gavin’s Mill also contains a fair trade shop, café and event space for community projects.

Find Gavin’s Mill at Gavin’s Mill Road, Milngavie, Glasgow, G62 6NB. For anyone from out of town then my top tip of the day is that Milngavie is pronounced Mull-guy. Just so you know to help avoid any red faces if you need to ask anyone for directions, or buy a train or bus ticket!

Other Zero-Waste Shopping Opportunities In Glasgow

Whilst you couldn’t consider Asda as a plastic-free or zero-waste shop, it’s worth noting that Asda at Toryglen in Glasgow is Asda’s first refill store in Scotland.

Launched in September 2021, the refill section features an extensive range of branded and own-brand products sold in a loose format. This includes pasta, rice, tea, coffee and cereals. Bring your own containers, or if you forget, you can buy a reusable container in the store.

Asda vows that all unpackaged products will be the same price or cheaper than their packaged equivalents.

Find Asda Toryglen at 555 Prospecthill Road, Glasgow G42 0AE.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and hand wash refills, The Body Shop now offers a liquid refill service in its five Glasgow stores. The good news is that The Body Shop is no longer owned by L’Oreal, and the brand has gone back to its cruelty-free roots.

Find the participating refill stores at:

• 46 St Enoch Shopping Centre, Glasgow, G1 4BW.
• 10 Central Station, Glasgow, G1 3SQ.
• Braehead Shopping Centre, 153 Kings Inch Road, Glasgow, G51 4BS.
• Glasgow Fort Shopping Centre, Auchinlea Retail Park, Glasgow, G33 5AL.
• Silverburn Shopping Centre, Glasgow, G53 6EQ.

Your Glasgow Zero-Waste Shops Recommendations?

Do you have any recommendations for zero-waste shops in Glasgow that I’ve missed? Do let me know in the comments below and I’ll be sure to add them here.