A ZERO-WASTE shopping experience will welcome Barry shoppers when Awesome.Wales sets up its stall in Holton Road.

The environment-friendly shop will welcome its first customers on Saturday, July 6.

And its owners, Barry residents, Stuart Burnell and Amy Greenfield, are offering customers a space to refill their water bottles while also eliminating excess packaging and plastics.

Awesome.Wales will also host a coffee shop and community hub hosting workshops and cooking demonstrations.

Shoppers bring their own jar, bag or container to pick from more than 450 items including oats, rice, spices, fresh fruit and veg, bread, cakes, washing up liquid, laundry detergent, soap and shampoos.

It will also offer eco-friendly products including bamboo toothbrushes, metal straws, reusable coffee cups and double walled water bottles.

Mr Burnell, director of Awesome, said “Our aim is to help local residents to protect the environment while doing their weekly shop. Most of the products in-store will also be cheaper or comparable in price to the supermarket, so you’ll be saving money as well as the planet.

The duo aim to offer ethically produced and locally sourced products.

Their bread is sourced from Penarth, glass bottled milk comes from Jones Dairy, in Barry, and their coffee beans are roasted by Uncommon Ground Pontypridd.

The store will also feature vegan and gluten free options, as well as cruelty free toiletries.

Awesome is a social enterprise which means the pair hope to use the coffee shop space to hold community events and workshops, including hosting Barry’s first Repair Cafe, a monthly event where broken items can be repaired instead of sending them to landfill.

They will host cooking workshops teaching young people how to cook from scratch using healthy whole food ingredients.

There will also be educational, environmental workshops where people can learn how to make cleaning products such as fabric conditioner and beeswax wraps which are an eco- friendly alternative to cling film.

The workshops and events aim to reduce wastage and create a community spirit and atmosphere.

Profits from the Community Interest Company will be invested in local groups and activities, allowing more people to become involved and decreasing social isolation.