Wester Ross zero-waste food shop launches this week in tie in with Highland Climate Festival as mum's bright idea is turned into reality

Ullapool Unpacked is touring the West coast this week for the Highland Climate Festival and as part of their launch week to promote a bright idea aimed at reducing waste.

The shop will be visiting Lochinver, Elphin, Achiltibuie, Dundonnell, and Gairloch, before being permanently situated outside the Ullapool Museum.

Ullapool Unpacked is a zero-waste food shop with over 90 products such as pasta, lentils, rice, nuts, fruit, herbs and spices, tea and coffee, as well as tins and sustainable living items such as biodegradable scrubbing brushes and plastic-free menstrual products.

All the food items being sold in the trailer were selected by members of the community.

Project manager of Ullapool Unpacked, Evie Strange, said: "I started Ullapool Unpacked when I had my daughter Thea, I was daunted by the amount of waste a child could produce, and decided to do something about it.

"Our shop sells everything loose with no packaging, so the idea is you bring a container, we weigh it when it's empty, then fill it with your desired product and amount, then weigh it again and you pay for just the weight of the product you have bought.

"You are able to buy as little or as much as you like, directly into your own containers. Reducing plastic waste, food waste and saving some pennies as well. We have funding to hold a Launch Week Tour as part of The Highland Climate Festival 2022. This will allow us to reach the wider community, and spread the word about our new service."

Noora is in Lochinver and will be at the Gairloch Highland Gathering on Saturday, July 2 from 10am to 5pm.

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