A WOMAN who opened a minimal waste shop in Burley just over two years ago has now branched out with a second store in Ilkley.

Charlotte Hawkins set up Waste Not to offer accessible, ethical and sustainable alternatives to everyday shopping needs, specialist foods, treats and gifts.

Her first store proved so successful that she has now launched a second store on Wells Road in Ilkley.

Charlotte has spent the last few years finding the ethical alternatives to everyday items such as bamboo clothes pegs and cotton buds to beauty and cleaning products that are biodegradable, vegan, cruelty free, palm oil free, sulphate free and natural.

She also sells a large selection of loose, dry foods, including flours, herbs, spices, beans, pulses, coffees and teas, granola, nuts, dried fruit and vegan sweets.

She said: “I want to make waste reduction accessible to all. Any changes, no matter how small, all add up to making a big difference. I don’t want there to be any barriers to this. If people don’t have time to make their own cleaning products for example, I want to be able to offer ready-made alternatives.

“Everyone has different commitments in their life and budget constraints, but if everyone does all they can personally manage then we are moving in the right direction.

“I am really excited to have opened in Ilkley. My sister Tilly Hawkins is the manager of the Ilkley store, and together we want to do as much as we can in the local community and beyond to encourage waste reduction.

“We welcome all input, so if anyone has any projects we can get involved with, or there is anything you would like to be available please get in touch.”

COVID-19 procedures are in place at both the Ilkley and Burley stores. This includes, customers being asked to wear a face mask and to observe two metre social distancing. Only two groups, to a maximum of four customers, are allowed in the shop at a time, hand sanitiser is mandatory, and is available at the door, and customers are asked to use wide brimmed containers for refilling.

Charlotte says she has always has always been conscientious about the environment, but having children made her realise even more how very important it is to look after it.

She and her family had already made lots of changes at home, such as switching to reusable nappies and wipes, bamboo tooth brushes, reusable sandwich wraps, shampoo, conditioner and facial wash bars.

But she found the real difficulty was sourcing packaging-free food.

Two and a half years ago she set up a pop up stall in Burley in Wharfedale - and after an “incredible” response she decided to launch the Waste Not shop in Burley. By 2019 she had outgrown the little shop in the Grange, and moved to larger premises on Main Street.