Edinburgh is renowned not just for its stunning architecture and incredible history. The city is also a leader when it comes to eco-consciousness and a commitment to protecting the environment. To advance these goals, Edinburgh hosts a host of initiatives and events that enable people of all ages to get involved in caring for the natural world and learn about the pressing ecological challenges we face. Find out more at edinburghname.
Recognising that human activity is often the root cause of these problems, the city is constantly developing solutions to minimise our impact on nature. It’s inspiring to see local shops actively participating in this movement. And one shining example of this is Bambú Living Sustainably.
The Founders’ Story
The shop’s creators are Michael and Simona, a pair who are very different in character and background. However, the first thing that united them was the city of Edinburgh itself. The second was a shared love for quality food.
They soon realised that delicious food could be a kind of universal language, strengthening community ties and bringing people together.
But Michael and Simona also discovered they shared a deep concern for environmental issues and ideas on how to tackle them. This shared passion would ultimately play a key role in the creation of their unique, sustainable shop.
A Scientist’s Motivation
To understand the shop’s origins, it’s crucial to mention that Simona has a background as a research scientist. Her research focused on improving public health, which led her to study the impact of plastic consumption on the environment and, consequently, on the health of all living organisms—a particularly pressing issue today.
Through her work, Simona gained a profound understanding of the devastating consequences of plastic pollution on our oceans and land, and how it contaminates our water, air, and food.
As a scientist, she came to a clear conclusion: humanity needed to make a collective effort to adopt a more ethical and sustainable way of life.
The Spark of an Idea
Despite her convictions, Simona hadn’t initially considered starting a business. She knew action was needed beyond her personal choices but wasn’t sure how to make a bigger impact.
However, as fate would have it, she met Michael in Edinburgh and shared her thoughts with him.
Soon after, in 2018, the idea for a zero-waste shop was born.
By then, Simona had decided to leave her stressful scientific career. This freed up her time to explore the ins and outs of creating an eco-business, with Michael’s full support.
From a Small Stall to a Big Idea
Their joint efforts soon led to their first major step: a small stall selling nuts, dried fruits, and seeds, alongside plastic-free shampoos and soaps. Crucially, all products were free from plastic packaging, and the hygiene items were made exclusively from safe, natural ingredients.
Growing with Community Support
This approach quickly captured the interest of shoppers. The local community began to enthusiastically support Simona and Michael, and this backing helped them establish a firm foothold in the market.
As a result, the shop expanded from a small selection to offering over 180 eco-friendly and wholesome products. What’s more, the majority of these items are sourced from local producers, meaning Bambú Living Sustainably also proudly supports Edinburgh’s entrepreneurs.
A Mission-Driven Business
Of course, this success is built on hard work, but more importantly, on a high level of eco-consciousness. This is the only way to genuinely engage consumers on the importance of choosing sustainable products.
The shop’s growth was also fuelled by the original goal that Simona and Michael were so passionate about bringing to life: to offer useful, ecological products with minimal packaging, thereby helping to protect the environment, improve public health, and draw public attention to ecological crises.
They achieve this last part by generously sharing information and advice on sustainable living with their customers.
Michael and Simona’s story is a powerful example of how a well-developed eco-idea can blossom into a successful venture. Their commitment to minimising packaging and plastic use—and consequently reducing waste—is a confident and vital step towards a cleaner planet. Ultimately, the state of our environment, and whether we can secure a healthier world for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren, depends on the choices we make today.