With Stroud being surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK, it's no surprise that its residents are proud to be protecting the planet by embracing more environmentally-conscious lifestyles.
The district's businesses are doing their bit too, with SoGlos rounding up 21 eco-friendly independent retailers in Stroud and the surrounding areas, selling everything from plastic-free groceries to pre-loved furniture and clothing.
Loose Plastic Free in Stroud
Stocking a wide range of organic and locally sourced products, from dried pasta, flour, tea and coffee, to soap, shampoo and cleaning product refills, Loose Plastic Free has been helping Stroud residents cut down on their plastic waste since 2018.
Its handy 'weigh, fill and bring to the till' method means customers can bring their own containers and only buy what they need, saving them money and the environment from unnecessary plastic packaging. Perfect!
Domestic Science in Nailsworth
With an expertly curated selection of clothes, gifts, homewares and vintage furniture, Domestic Science in Nailsworth is a treasure trove for shoppers, with plenty of choice for those looking for environmentally-conscious products.
Browse for everything from gorgeous glass pharmacy bottles, perfect for your favourite soap refills; insulated reusable coffee cups, ideal for taking your morning brew on the commute; right up to reclaimed garden gates.
Good Food on the Edge in Wotton-under-Edge
At Good Food on the Edge in Wotton-under-Edge, owner Theresa picks out the freshest fruit and veg for her signature boxes, with no plastic packaging in sight.
Choose from the salad box; the juicing box; the fruit bowl favourites box; the simple suppers box; or a mixed box packed with seasonal produce - or pick up loose items as you need them. While the store offers local delivery on selected days, keep your food miles low and order to collect from the store for a greener option.
Longfield Hospice Shops in the Stroud District
With shops in Berkeley, Dursley, Minchinhampton, Nailsworth, Painswick, Stonehouse, Stroud and Wotton-under-Edge, lovers of all things pre-loved can fill their boots at Longfield Hospice stores.
As well as a dedicated bookshop in Dursley and a furniture department in the Stroud store, Longfield Hospice sells men's, women's and children's clothing, shoes and accessories; toys; homeware; electricals; and plenty more besides. Priding itself on selling the best quality second-hand goods, go for a rummage and you're bound to find a bargain.
Time After Time in Stroud
Regarded by Vogue and The Sunday Times as one of the best British vintage boutiques, Stroud's Time After Time is well worth a visit for fashion fans.
From authentic Victorian outfits to dreamy 60s and 70s styles; vintage Venetian masks to parasols, hats and jewellery, whatever your era, you'll find something to fall head over heels for.
Cornflower and Calico in Stroud
Homeware and cookshop Cornflower and Calico in Stroud, keeps ecology, sustainability and Fair Trade close to its heart, with its product range being sustainable, fairly traded and eco-friendly wherever possible.
With Kilner jars in all shapes and sizes perfect for homemade preserves, to vintage drawer pulls and cabinet knobs ideal for upcyclers, there's plenty to choose from, with items from all over the world - and just down the road.
Stonehouse Milk
For anyone looking to cut down on their food miles, Stonehouse Milk has a vending machine on its farm, where visitors can fill up on ethically produced free range milk from its own herd of dairy cows.
The fresh milk is gently pasteurised and non-homogenised, producing a creamy taste and retaining more nutrients, so it both tastes good and does good. Stonehouse Milk also donates 5p from every litre of milk sold to a local charity, chosen by its customers.
Cotswold Natural Food Store in Wotton-under-Edge
With an impressive range of spices, herbal remedies, vitamins, supplements, alongside organic and vegan snacks and drinks, Wotton-under-Edge's Cotswold Natural Food Store is a great spot for shoppers conscious of their health as well as the environment.
You can grab the spices to cook up a tasty curry, put on a vegan cheese board, get some gut-friendly probiotics and much more at this hidden gem of a store.
Party On Up in Stroud
Stroud's Party On Up is one of the only places in the county where you can recycle party balloons and weights. As well as stocking plastic-free latex balloons that can be composted after use, it also allows customers to return foil and bubble balloons and balloon weights purchased at the store to be repurposed or recycled.
It also uses balloon gas, rather than pure helium (which has medical and industrial uses) to inflate its balloons - and never knowingly facilitates balloon releases either, highlighting the dangers of releasing balloons to wildlife and the ecosystem to its customers and providing alternative ideas to mark a special occasion.
Henry's Coffee House and Dairy in Minchinhampton
Henry's Coffee House and Dairy in the centre of Minchinhampton is ideal for locals looking to reduce their food miles, with its milk, cream, yoghurt, butter and cheese all made with help from its own herd of Shorthorn cows.
The bread, pastries, meat, eggs and coffee on offer in the shop and the café all come from local suppliers too, so you can treat yourself to a guilt-free brunch or coffee while shopping for your essentials.
Shiny Goodness in Nailsworth
Shiny Goodness in Nailsworth offers refills of Ecover, Faith in Nature and Bio-D products, to save customers cash and prevent unnecessary plastic waste, as well as stocking a range of loose products including porridge oats, dried fruits, nuts, seeds and pasta to buy by weight.
The health food store also offers free drop-in consultations with a nutritional therapist or medical herbalist, to help customers understand holistic, natural and plant-based remedies for common complaints.
Fifis Fancy Furniture in Wotton-under-Edge
One for antique lovers and upcyclers, Fifis Fancy Furniture in Wotton-under-Edge specialises in sourcing and selling antique and upcycled furniture.
With an eclectic range spanning large items like dressers and dining tables, down to candelabras, mirrors and ornaments, there's plenty to browse. Fifis is also an official Frenchic stockist, offering a range of furniture paints, brushes and waxes for your own upcycling projects - with owner Fifi more than happy to share her expertise with customers.
Stroud Valleys Eco Shop in Stroud
With the aim of stocking 'environmentally-friendly versions of things customers buy regularly', Stroud Valleys Eco Shop offers vegan, cruelty-free refills of cleaning products, body wash, shampoo and conditioner; local honey; bat, bird and hedgehog homes; gardening equipment; sustainable homewares like beeswax wraps, reusable coffee cups, bamboo cutlery and plastic-free dishwashing sponges; as well as gifts, greetings cards, stationary, toys, games and books.
On top of that, the store is also a Terracycle facility, accepting a wide variety of items to recycle, like single-use biscuit, bread and cake wrappers; coffee packaging; toothbrush heads; inkjet printer cartridges; games consoles; mobile phones; and much more.
Greenshop Paints in Bisley
Greenshop Paints in Bisley has one of the biggest selections of eco-friendly and natural paints in the country, with many being low odour, solvent-free and better for your home and the planet.
Stocking undercoats and primers, interior and exterior paints in a rainbow of colours, as well as furniture paint, filler, wax and painting tools, eco-conscious homeowners can paint their house green whatever colour they choose.
Leaf and Ground in Dursley
The deli and shop at Leaf and Ground in Dursley is well stocked with local produce, including fresh fruit and veg grown at local farms; homemade soup, quiche, falafels, pies, frittata and Scotch eggs; freshly-baked sourdough from Salt Bakehouse; as well as wine from Woodchester Valley Vineyard, beer from Stroud Brewery and cider from Dunkertons.
Its garden centre is also packed with houseplants ideal for purifying the air indoors; outdoor plants to put in the garden to support biodiversity and provide food for dwindling insect populations; and locally-made bird feeders, tables and baths to encourage local species to set up home in your back yard.
Daisy Daisy in Wotton-under-Edge
Pre-loved clothing store Daisy Daisy in Wotton-under-Edge stocks a range of maternity, baby and children's clothes - so when your bump or baby is growing fast, your wardrobe can keep up without breaking the bank.
Shoppers can also pick up toys, books and games for little ones, as well as selling any unwanted items of their own with a Daisy Daisy customer account, saving them from landfill and giving them a new lease of life.
Yellow-Lighted Bookshop in Nailsworth
Independent book store the Yellow-Lighted Bookshop in Nailsworth prides itself on being an ethical bookseller, with a focus on being as environmentally-friendly as possible, too.
As well as reducing the amount of deliveries it requires for stock by using a wholesaler, the shop and website is powered by renewable energy, it only uses 100 per cent recycled paper bags and uses a carbon neutral bike courier for local deliveries.
Rasmachaz in Stroud
Thrift store Rasmaschaz in Stroud sells a variety of preloved items, from clothes and accessories to books, vinyl records and CD's, to raise money for Refugee Aid.
It aims to be a friendly, welcoming place for everyone, helping shoppers to be more eco-friendly by giving donated items a new lease of life, while also raising money and awareness to help refugees in the UK.
Chalford Village Shop
This community-run village store in Chalford is run by volunteers and stocked with a variety of locally sourced and made products.
With everything from groceries like bread, meat and eggs, to greetings cards, ceramics and homewares, there's plenty to choose from. The store also offers refills of a variety of dried goods; washing up liquid and laundry detergent; shampoo and hand wash; as well as fresh milk from Woefuldane Organic Dairy.
Feast from the Farm in Wotton-under-Edge
Wotton-under-Edge's well-established farm shop sells a variety of produce grown in the fields surrounding the store, as well as micro greens to grow at home, locally made beers and ciders, recyclable homeware and seasonal gifts.
It has also recently introduced a selection of plastic-free 'meal makers', like individual fish cakes, chicken Kievs, pasties and desserts - with gluten free options available too.
Sourced in Stonehouse
Sourced in Stonehouse stocks an eclectic variety of items from local crafters and makers, ideal for anyone looking for a unique gift with a handmade touch.
It's also a stockist of eco-friendly Frenchic chalk paints, which are water based, low in volatile organic compounds - or VOCs - and virtually odour-free. They're even safe to use on children's toys, so they're ideal for giving preloved things a new lease of life.
