We’ve put together a list of options for buying more sustainably – we’ve checked each out for reduced packaging, local food or organic products. Here’s a summary comparison chart, with details of each option below.
Sustainable Food Shop Options Comparison Chart-Download
Weekly delivery sourced from local farms with drop points in Wood Green, Crouch End, Highgate, Tottenham and Finsbury Park.
Choice of 3 sizes of bag of vegetables and one of fruit
They collect surplus and oddly shaped vegetables direct from farms to avoid food waste.
Weekly deliveries across London and the South-East
Virtually plastic free. Organic vegan foods, cleaning products and toiletries
They pack in paper bags and operate a jar exchange.
Delivery day is Thursday to North and North-West London
Seasonal organic vegetables, fruit, dairy, fish and meat. Wide choice of boxes and flexible orders. Minimal compostable packaging with occasional plastic bags (eg. Lettuce)
Deliveries from a cooperative of farms in the South-East and some produce from farms in Spain, Italy and France. Never by air.
We’ve not tried this – Tesco and Loop are partnering to offer new trial service with re-usable containers which they will pick up and re-fill.
Seasonal organic vegetables, fruit, dairy, fish and meat, toiletries, sustainable cleaning products, drinks and kitchen essentials.
79 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, N8 9BE
Dried foods (mostly organic), vegan cheese and locally hand made chocolate, cleaning products. Click-and-Collect operating using paper bags. Deliveries only to the very vulnerable.
Seasonal vegetables (organic where possible), fruit, dairy, fish and meat.
From farmers who follow environmentally and socially responsible farming systems.
Wide range of organic and sustainable products.
Dried and tinned foods, toiletries, cleaning products, drinks branded groceries
Their dried food comes in plastic packaging. Only the 5kg catering packs are recyclable
Designed for independent shops but could be useful for sharing with other households.
A small company providing seasonal organic vegetables, fruit, and branded groceries including those from Clipper, Suma and Infinity.
They source their produce from a number of growers in the UK and Europe including a cooperative in Sicily.