PUPILS from West Park Primary School in Porthcawl recently opened a zero-waste shop in Porthcawl as part of a PopUP Wales collaboration which demonstrated their commitment to both the environment and local business.
The shop, named Eco Green Leaf, was open for a two-hour slot and the year 6 pupils were tasked with the aim of changing the buying habits of their teachers, parents and members of the local community.
The shop offered a range of refillable and ethically sourced products including lavender soap, colouring pencils and scented lip balms. To reduce waste, customers were also encouraged to reuse any existing packaging they have instead of buying new packaging with every purchase.
In September, Bridgend County Borough Council installed the first phase of a retail box park in the Hillsboro South Car Park in Porthcawl and for the last two months the PopUp Wales project, funded by UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund, have been putting small businesses into the spaces for short term pop-ups.
The pop-ups so far have included Sea and Valley ceramics, Not Just Travel personal travel agent, and the Baldilocks wellbeing company. In the coming months PopUp Wales will make way for two long term tenants.
The project proved popular with the pupils, Cody said: “Everyone said we did an excellent job and that they would come back and will try to be more Eco in the future.”
Those thoughts were also echoed by fellow pupils Faith, Sam and Macsen who enjoyed interviewing the public about their buying habits and explaining their sustainable wardrobe scheme which is in place to reuse school uniform.
The Eco Green Leaf project was set up with help from local entrepreneur Gemma Lewis who runs the Porthcawl based Pantri Box café and refill shop.
Gemma, said: “These children have decided to make a change that will impact their future. They are really engaged with the climate challenges we all face and by doing this refill shop they are influencing household buying habits for the better.”
Gareth Willis-Falco, PopUp Wales project manager, said: “This is exactly the kind of entrepreneurial spirit we want to support under PopUp Wales. Business can be used as a force for good – these young people are leading the way with their great ideas.”
The school’s headteacher, Sarah Morgan, said that the school is incredibly proud of the project: “This was a wonderful opportunity for the children to showcase Eco Green Leaf to the wider Community.
“We are very proud of the way the children have developed compassion for sustainable living. Their determination to share knowledge and provide innovative ways to promote climate action and an ecofriendly lifestyle is exemplary”.
Cllr Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Housing and Planning, added: “Well done to everyone that’s involved in this wide-ranging project and it’s fantastic to see our partners and various members of the local community working together in such a positive way.
“It’s also particularly pleasing that our schools are offering pupils the chance to find a passion for local business whilst raising awareness of key environmental messages.”
