Make a big difference with some small changes, helped by some of Gloucestershire’s best independent eco-friendly businesses.

From reducing how much plastic you use to switching to environmentally-friendly alternatives to everyday products, there are plenty of eco-friendly businesses in Gloucestershire offering innovative ways to help the planet – with SoGlos rounding up 8 in this hot list.

A post shared by The Last Straw (@thelaststrawcheltenham)

Set up by two brothers, The Last Straw Cheltenham is trying to ‘put an end to plastic pollution’ by supplying individuals and businesses in Gloucestershire with natural wheat and bamboo straws.

The bamboo straws are made from, unsurprisingly, bamboo – which is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet. The company’s wheat range of straws can also be composted and will biodegrade over three months.

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Offering a range of handmade, planet-friendly organic clothing for children, Lovesay and Mo is the brainchild of Gloucestershire-based Megan.

The business came about when Megan struggled to find unisex baby clothing that was eco-friendly. Using her degree in textile design, Lovesay and Mo was born and now offers a small collection of cotton jumpsuits for children up to the age of three.

A post shared by FoodLoose Cheltenham (@foodloosecheltenham)

Offering plastic free shopping in Cheltenham, Food Loose and Plastic Free is located at the town’s Global Footsteps Café on Portland Street.

Open between Wednesdays and Saturdays, the store sells organic and fair-trade dried goods, refillable washing-up liquid, toilet cleaner, shampoo and liquid soap.

Visitors are asked to bring their own containers along to fill up, or empty household cleaning bottles suitable for refilling.

A post shared by Ann-May (@celiaspantryglos)

Family owned and locally created, Celia’s Pantry is well known at Gloucestershire’s farmers markets for its chutneys and jellies.

Using no artificial flavourings, sweeteners and colourings, and with only fresh, local and seasonal produce, this range of natural preserves are made in small batches to ensure their high quality.

A post shared by Field Fresh Skincare (@fieldfreshskincare)

Creators of local and natural skincare solutions, Field Fresh Skincare is a Gloucestershire based skincare company stocking a range of plant-based products.

The company encourages customers to ‘blend it yourself’ with a range of locally sourced products designed to create fantastic natural skincare solutions that help the environment too.

A post shared by The Beeswax Wrap Co. (@thebeeswaxwrapco)

Handmade in the Cotswolds, beeswax wraps are an eco-friendly alternative to cling film. The wraps can be used to keep bread fresh, salad last longer, and cheese without the sweaty film when stored in the fridge!

The idea comes from Carly and Fran, who wanted to live as plastic free as possible in 2017, and decided to create their own bees wax wrap after being inspired by a similar product that’s used in Australia.

A post shared by Migration Studios (@migrationstudios)

The first recording studio dedicated to carbon capture launched in the Cotswolds back in October 2021.

The unique new independent recording studio, Migration Studios, channels 100% of booking proceeds into the environmental arts charity, Platform Earth, to help tackle climate change. The first project it is helping to fund is the Sussex Kelp Restoration Project, which is working to restore and rewild the Sussex coastline.

A post shared by BenRyanHairSalon (@benryanhair)

Cheltenham independent hairdresser, Ben Ryan Hair, says that sustainability is very important to the company. The firm uses haircare brand Davines, which is made using organically grown products and has been awarded the ‘b-corp’ certificate. There’s even sustainably-sourced coffee served up to customers.

Ben Ryan Hair recycles 90 per cent of its rubbish, has a renewable energy supplier and uses eco lightbulbs in its salon. The firm even cool washes its towels and hangs them to dry.

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