A PLASTIC free shop with a zero waste policy is leading by example in showing how people can make a difference to the planet in their everyday lives.

The Replenishery on John Street in Leigh opened in June and sells a variety of dry foods, household goods and reusable items such as women’s sanitary products.

Fruit, cereal, chocolate, pasta, nuts, rice and vegan-friendly items are some of the foods that are stacked stylishly on the shelves.

Visitors can also buy liquids by weight such as shampoo, which are stored in large tubs and are transferred to customers’ own containers, or a reusable bottle they can purchase from the shop.

The outlet, which is based at a unit that made up part of the former Stephensons Solicitors branch, is run by Ian Morris, 44, from Leigh, and his partner Olga Salajkova, 39, from the Czech Republic.

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Ian said: “Olga and I go like to go to stores that are plastic free but the nearest one is 40 minutes away. We thought why don’t we open a shop.

“We could not be happier with how it’s going so far and Saturdays have been really busy.

“Everyone seems really positive about it.

“People buy all the goods that we get in and everything usually goes within a week of it being on the shelves.

“We are always on the lookout for new products and we have been getting them from local suppliers.”

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Recruitment trainer Ian works at the store on Saturdays while Olga is employed there full time.

Olga previously worked in an administrative role for a demolition firm, in which she saw a lot of goods going to waste.

Due to the pair’s prolific recycling rate, their general waste bin is never close to being full on collection date.

Ian hopes people can introduce a “couple of little changes” to their lives to contribute to improving the environment.

His shop is tackling an issue that has been increasingly focused on in the media, which has shone a spotlight on the harmful effects plastics are having on the world, especially marine life.

Soon after its opening awareness month Plastic Free July begun and led to more people walking into the premises to find out how they could do their bit for the cause.