Jessica Peck

Young entrepreneurs zero-waste business will not cost the earth

A 24-year-old from Carmarthen has opened the first zero-waste shop in Carmarthenshire, following support from Big Ideas Wales.

The Green Scoop, promotes zero waste throughout the Carmarthen based shop using product dispensers to allow customers to refill their own reusable jars, eliminating the use of plastic packaging.

A former ward clerk at Glangwili Hospital, Jessica gave up her job to follow a personal mission in reducing her own plastic usage. An ongoing journey to find products sold without plastic left her realising there were few alternatives in the area.

Jessica’s shop fixings have been created using as much salvageable material as possible. The table and shelving are made of pallets, a bookcase has been made of old floorboards and a fruit and veg section made of scaffolding boards and apple crates. The counter even has pitch pine panels that came out of a church.

Jess said: “I found it extremely hard and often frustrating trying to cut down on the amount of plastic I was using but having no way of facilitating it in Carmarthen. When I discovered zero-waste shops elsewhere, I felt really motivated to open my own business that would not only reduce my impact on the environment but help others in the community do the same.

Jessica started her business with the help of Big Ideas Wales, the youth entrepreneurship service in Wales.

Talking about the service Jessica said: “Big Ideas Wales was a great help, especially my business advisor who really knew his stuff. He helped me with my business plan and the financial side of starting a business which I struggled with before. He was also instrumental in me achieving my start-up loan which meant I could open my shop”.

Jessica has also taken advantage of some of Big Ideas Wales events hosted across Wales for budding business people.

She continued: “I’ve attended a few events with Big Ideas Wales, including a networking event and a residential three-day Bootcamp to Business earlier this year. This allowed me to meet likeminded young people as well as Big Ideas Wales’ Role Models who have been successful in running their own businesses. I learnt so much and I left feeling so inspired and ready to begin my own business journey.”

Jessica’s Big Ideas Wales business advisor, said:

Jessica set up her business as she wanted to make a change and help others do the same. She’s very driven to run a business that will promote change in her community. I wish her all the best with the launch and the future of her business.

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