In this blog, final year student Serena gives us a whistle stop tour of the best sustainable shops and cafes in Bath after she took part in the Climate Champions sustainability tour of Bath. Ahead of Small Business Saturday on 7 December, Serena highlights the opportunity to shop from independent, local and sustainably-minded shops particularly this time of year. Luckily for you, Bath is a treasure trove for just that, keep reading to hear her recommendations and experience on the tour.

As university students, we’re often juggling deadlines, social events, and endless cups of coffee, but there’s one thing that can sometimes get lost in the hustle and bustle—our planet. The University of Bath Climate Champions organised an invigorating autumnal walk back in October, around the city to scope out and learn about how we can live sustainably in Bath and visiting some sustainable stores. I’m going to take you through our afternoon adventure and hopefully persuade you to check out at least one of these places.

Where we visited

Trekking down the incline of crunchy fallen leaves of Bathwick hill, we came to Bath’s charming Refillable on London Road. Minimalist in style and stocked with many products from cleaning supplies to pantry staples like pasta and rice, this store is perfect if you’re looking to cut down on single-use plastics and packaging. I was especially impressed by the vast selection of eco-friendly personal care products—think shampoos, conditioners, and lotions, all refillable!

A group of people stood in the stationary store — At the Green Stationary Company

A mere stone’s throw away is The Green Stationery Company, a true gem for anyone in need of supplies for uni or personal projects. Sadly, as we learned from one of the owners, because sustainable businesses haven’t a large market, their physical store is more like a delivery stop. However, if the stunning window displays should tell you anything it’s that this little shop is a treasure trove of sustainable alternatives to everyday stationery, from recycled notebooks to biodegradable pens, to print paper made from recycled elephant dung! (Want to know how it smells? Visit and find out for yourself!)

Only a couple minutes’ walk towards the centre and an absolute haven for anyone wanting to embrace a plant-based, sustainable lifestyle is Harvest Natural Foods. They offer a huge variety of organic foods and eco-friendly snacks, wrapped in zero-waste packaging.

I have provided a short list of some of the best sustainable eats in Bath if you are still hungry:

Some of us who attended the tour outside Mabboo

Finally, we stopped by Mabboo, an adorable store dedicated to bamboo-based products tucked away in the heart of Bath. From toothbrushes to kitchenware, everything here is sustainably sourced and incredibly practical. They even have bamboo clothing!

So, if you find yourself in Bath and want to shop more sustainably, I highly recommend checking out these outlets. Not only will you be supporting local businesses, but you’ll also be making small steps toward a greener lifestyle. Don’t wait to declare a New Year’s Resolution and explore the city’s greener retail options right now, be conscious this Christmas and think where you buy from. It is said after all, autumn is the season of change...