National award for The People’s Pantry
A trailblazing refill business from North London has won the Bricks & Clicks Award at this year’s Small Awards in recognition of its innovation.
The People’s Pantry was one of just ten small business winners, across ten categories and the entire UK, to win a Small Award. They’ve also received a Community Carbon grant from Haringey Council to further their mission of reducing plastic waste.
The refill business, run by married co-founders Lisa Jones and Stephen Thomas, operates from a restored vintage milk float called Ernie and offers doorstep deliveries in a bid to help people reduce their plastic waste.
Powered by a slick e-com site, the business enables precise volume orders to further reduce waste - it functions just like Ernie’s original milkman did: a closed loop container system, with empties left out at each delivery day for collection, sanitisation and reuse.
Celebrating the win, Lisa, said: “Not only is it a huge boost and validation of two years of hard work and experimentation with our service model, but a prestigious platform from which to extend our message of the critical need for a bottom-up approach to taking responsibility for reducing waste; and recognising that reuse, not recycling, is a key solution.
“Joining the Refill Revolution is an easy, fun route in to changing our behaviours and The People’s Pantry is about just that: ease and fun!”
The business, which launched during lockdown in August 2021, stocks more than 250 carefully curated household staples, including pantry, bathroom and eco-cleaning essentials. All are vetted for their environmental impact, from food miles and supply lines to packaging policies, ethics and soil impact. All are independents and, wherever possible, sourced locally - including local honey, seasonal flowers, roasted coffee and craft beer.
The award was presented by comedian Sue Perkins at a prestigious celebration event.
Lisa and Stephen plan to use their grant from Haringey Council to repair a pre-loved sewing machine, which they’ll use to make drawstring bags from repurposed fabric.
The Small Awards, run by Small Business Britain, is a nationwide search for the smallest and greatest firms in the UK.
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