A ZERO waste store in Wokingham will celebrate three years of sustainability next month.
Maya’s Refillables, which opened in 2022, will raise a glass with customers who visit the store on its anniversary.
Its founder, Maya Gheorghe started her business running a market stall in Wokingham town centre in 2019.
She found that there was such a demand for her refillable products that she was able to open a shop in Peach Place, since when the business is helping to make a real difference.
Not only a shop, it is also a sustainability hub where people can learn more about their carbon footprint, and how to tread more softly.
“It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate with the town,” Maya said.
“We’ll have free cake, bubbles and juice, thanks to our neighbours; restaurant Hamlet, The Wild Card who are providing plastic-free balloons, and Jayne’s Bakes.”
Maya keeps a watchful eye on statistics that show how much her store is helping to reduce waste.
“Since opening we’ve refilled 125,314 containers,” she said.
“In CO2 savings that’s roughly equivalent to driving around the Earth’s equator two and a half times (around 62,250 miles).
“It’s also the same amount of CO2 that 1,151 mature trees would absorb in a year, or that 17 transatlantic flights would create, or that 30 homes in the UK would produce through their annual electricity consumption.”
Maya’s Refillables is also helping other borough businesses move to more sustainable practices by supplying them with zero waste products.
Brookside Lettings, Hamlet, Grilko, Oxfam, Martin Co, Each Person, Wobbly Dog Referrals, Jayne Vegan Bakes and Joy Café, are all operating more sustainably thanks to Maya’s Professional Refill Service.
And the business contributes to many community groups, including Wokingham In Bloom; Ali’s Recycling, The Link Visiting Scheme, and Wokingham Repair Café, while Maya herself gives talks on sustainability to local schools and groups, including People Planet Pint, and Wokingham Horticultural Association.
The anniversary celebration will take place at Maya’s Refillables store on Saturday, April 5, during opening hours, between 9am and 5pm.
For more information, visit: mayasrefillables.com
