We are Simona and Michael, the founders and creators of Bambú Living Sustainably. Michael and I met in Edinburgh, one of the most beautiful cities we have lived in and we have been calling it home for a wee while. We come from very different cultural and career background. Mike is an artist who works in the videogame arena and I am a research biologist with academic background. Despite our differe
nces, one of the common interests we have is the love for good food. This is why we believe that food can be the universal language that connects people and tightens community bonds regardless of the age, ethnical and cultural backgrounds. After all, we all need to nourish to sustain ourselves and stay healthy no matter where we are from. Supporting Locals and Serving the Community
Thanks to supportive friends, early adopters, old and new customers, Bambú Living Sustainably has been growing gradually into what is today with over 300 sustainable, healthy and/or locally sourced products. We are proud to be supporting, working and collaborating with many local independent producers that share similar values and ethos. Whether is us discovering them, or the other way round, our list of sustainable and natural products is continually growing as we continue with our journey. Our Goals
The aim of Bambú is simple: to make a positive impact on the environment, healthcare and community by providing wholesome foods and eco-friendly products with minimal packaging. Along the way, we hope to encourage and share helpful information and tips to help people to transition to more sustainable living. We look forward to you joining us on the journey of living a sustainable lifestyle with less waste. Why I started Bambú? As a researcher who always had a major interest in improving healthcare, I (Simona) grew increasingly concerned about the harmful impacts of the ever growing plastic consumption on the wildlife, environment and ultimately the health and wellbeing of us, people. Understanding from a scientist point of view and being aware of the devastating consequences of land and ocean pollution affecting the quality of air, water and food that we consume and breath in, my opinion to changing to more ethical and sustainable lifestyle became even more pressing. So the concept of starting a ‘zero waste shop’ was born and I decided to start Bambú Living Sustainably over 2 years ago back in 2018. I was inspired by the story of a young couple who started the first Zero Waste Shop (Earth.Food.Love) in UK in Devon. And this quote "If not you who, if not now when" pushed me to take action and do something to raise awareness of the huge problem of plastic pollution both on a personal level as well as addressing a wider issue. Leap of Faith
Despite the uncertainty of the unfamiliar type of business idea at that stage, Michael, was very encouraging and supportive of me and the idea. So we embarked on the journey of setting up a modest package-free stall. Together with a small selection of healthy snacks such as dried fruit, nuts, seeds, and plastic-free soap and shampoo bars. With help of friends, we also designed infographics with helpful plastic-free tips to give out to people for free in order to encourage them to make plastic-free swaps. I was inexperienced but full of enthusiasm, but with huge help and support from my husband we tried and tested many ways of reaching more people. For the past 2.5 years, we tried popping up anywhere in Edinburgh we had opportunities: at cafes, community fairs, Police box in Leith Walk, events at the university campus, company, indoor and outdoor markets and learned a lot along the way in every aspect of running a business but still with a lot to learn and to improve. Why refill
In the UK, supermarkets alone produce ~1 million tons of plastic every year, this accounts for a quarter of all plastic waste in the country. This is a huge problem that is not sustainable. This is the reason why I think more people should care about reducing waste and helping the environment. Ultimately, a WASTED planet affects everyone’s health and it will only get worse if we don’t step up and do something about it. Plastic has only been widely used in the last 50 years and yet its ubiquitous and mass use in different fields continue to generate colossal amount of waste that is chocking our planet. As with any good invention and discovery, responsible use is key. While the durable material has been valuable for many uses and functions, the culture of single-use and disposal of plastic is one of the major issues that need to be urgently addressed today. We believe a small change from individuals can make a difference. A simple action and a small shift in our shopping habits, whether that be your food or washing-up liquid refilled from bulk, it can and will make a big difference when efforts are pulled together. Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle are the 5 common Rs that we advocate in applying when trying to reduce waste. So feel free to B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Containers) like a mason jar, jam jar, ice cream tub or lunchbox for any refills. In this way, you only buy the amount that you need without creating unnecessary waste, so you don’t end up wasting food that would otherwise been forgotten and thrown away. Buying good quality ingredients to cook wholesome food is key to a healthier diet and lifestyle. We believe that taking care of yourself today and leaving a cleaner planet for the future is a worthwhile investment in yourself, people you love and future generations.
