Lawsons goes plastic-free in July

South-west housewares and home furnishings chain Lawsons is taking part in Plastic Free July and has signed up to the challenge at www.plasticfreejuly.org.

Organised by charity The Plastic Free July Foundation, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the world’s growing plastic waste problem by challenging people to avoid single-use (disposable) plastic.

Lawsons managing director Liz Lawson said: “The Plastic Free movement has really resonated with Lawsons and our customers. However, when I started looking into it, I found there was little practical advice or information on where to buy alternatives. So we decided that instead of doing a promotional leaflet this summer, we would do one with practical advice for our customers.”

The leaflet highlights reusable or recyclable versions of ‘the top four takeaway items’ water bottles (Built stainless steel bottles, Sistema Hydrate square bottles), drinking straws (100% organic compostable paper straws from Fallen Fruits), takeaway coffee cups (Stojo collapsible cups, Built double-walled insulated tumblers, Ecoffee cups made of bamboo) and shopping bags (recycled plastic bags from Rex International, cotton string bags from Bags2Keep, trolley bags from www.trolleybags.com and shopping trolleys from Sabichi Homewares).

Liz added that as part of this initiative, Lawsons has decided to withdraw from sale all of its single-use plastic bags in July “so we can start a conversation with our customers about being plastic-free”. Lawsons currently charges 5p for single-use carrier bags and hopes that by 2020 it will no longer have them at all.  All the money collected goes to a local charity.

The Devon-based retailer is promoting its Plastic Free July push on social media, its website and in-store with the message: ‘There’s no excuse for single-use!’

Lawsons is a family-owned independent business that operates four stores in IvyBridge, Tavistock, Plymouth and Totnes that offer ‘essentials for home living’.