The Bare Alternative

The Bare Alternative South Yorkshire’s largest low-impact lifestyle and refill store. Affordable and package-free shopping

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31/08/2026

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27/08/2026

I chose a brand new Fairphone 6. Not the one with the best camera. 📱

If I'd gone refurbished, a Pixel 8 Pro would likely have been slightly cheaper with a better camera. But as we talked about in part 1, if that phone needed replacing again sooner, it could end up costing more overall.

🔧 Twelve parts can be user-replaced, including the battery, using nothing more than a small screwdriver to open up the back. Instead of a sealed phone you eventually replace, it's designed to keep going for years.

🛡️ It also comes with a 5-year warranty and software support until 2033. Not a phone designed for two or three years, but one designed to still be worth using in a decade.

♻️ My last phone lasted me 8 years. If this one's going to last that long too, I wanted it built with that in mind from the start.

Sometimes the most sustainable choice isn't the refurbished one, it's the one actually built to last.

Bought with my own money, not sponsored. Just genuinely the phone I chose. 💚

20/08/2026

I chose new over refurbished. Yes, really. 📱

Same principle as refill shopping, just applied somewhere unexpected 👇

New isn't automatically the worse choice, and refurbished isn't automatically the better one. It depends on whether the phone is actually built to last.

🗑️ Around 25 million mobile phones get binned in the UK every single year, and only a fraction of that gets properly recycled.

♻️ A refurbished phone gives an existing device a second life, and that matters. But if it can't be repaired and ends up replaced again in a couple of years anyway, that's still a phone heading for the same pile eventually.

🤔 So this time, sustainability meant asking a different question. Not "is this the greener purchase today," but "which choice means I'm not doing this again in two years."

Part 2 soon: which phone I actually chose, and why 👀

06/08/2026

📉 A few of our refill prices have come down... and one popular product is back!

We've been reviewing our latest supplier prices and, wherever we can, we're passing those savings straight on to you.

In this update you'll find:
🍑 Apricots - now £1.90
🌾 Arborio Rice - now 47p (was 55p)
🥣 Tropical Muesli - now 60p (was 70p)
🫘 Red Kidney Beans - now 45p (was 50p)
🍇 Mixed Fruit - now 90p (was 95p)
🥣 Fruit Crunch - now 85p (was £1.00)
🥜 Wasabi Peas are back! Now £1.30 (was £1.40)

You'll also hear why our apricots have changed again. After briefly returning to organic earlier this year, we've had to switch back to non-organic because organic apricots are currently unavailable from all of our suppliers. The upside is they're now even cheaper.

Things may be a little quieter on here over the next couple of weeks while I get stuck into some long-awaited jobs around the shop, but I'll still be popping on with updates like this whenever there's something worth sharing.

♻️ It's time for our monthly SESI refill update!In July, you helped add 1,229 refills, bringing our 2026 total to 6,438 ...
02/08/2026

♻️ It's time for our monthly SESI refill update!

In July, you helped add 1,229 refills, bringing our 2026 total to 6,438 single-use bottles and packaging items saved from SESI refills alone.

As it's now the end of Plastic Free July, we're also taking a quick look back at some of the other plastic-free and low-waste content we've shared this month.

Missed something? Take a look back through our profile and see what you might have missed! 👀

Plastic shampoo bottles can create a surprising amount of waste. 🚿♻️

For Day 15, we explored how switching to shampoo bars can be a simple way to reduce the amount of single-use plastic we use in our bathrooms.

Shampoo bars remove the need for a plastic bottle altogether, helping to keep packaging out of the waste stream.

Recycling is important, but what if we didn't create the waste in the first place? ♻️

For Day 15, we looked at why recycling alone isn't enough to solve our plastic waste problem.

Choosing plastic-free alternatives like shampoo bars can help us prevent waste rather than trying to deal with it afterwards.

Natural fibres aren't always as simple as they sound. 👕

For Day 18, we explored why choosing natural fibres can be complicated, with many clothes made from blends of natural and synthetic fibres.

Knowing what our clothes are made from can help us make more informed choices when buying and replacing them.

There are more ways to wash your clothes without another plastic bottle. 🧺

For Day 19, we compared laundry sheets, powder refills and reusable laundry eggs with traditional detergent bottles, looking at some of the lower-waste options available.

Could changing your razor save you money as well as plastic? 🪒

For Day 20, we explored the long-term cost of switching to a metal safety razor and how inexpensive replacement blades can make it a more affordable option over time.

Before buying something new, could you borrow it instead? 🤝

For Day 24, we explored how checking with friends, family or our local community can help us get what we need without buying something that might only be used occasionally.

Borrowing can mean less waste, less clutter and potentially less money spent too.

How much waste could one reusable swap prevent? 🌱

For Day 27, we compared reusable period products with disposable alternatives over 10 years.

The difference between thousands of disposable products and just a handful of reusable ones really shows the potential for reducing waste.

We're Hiring! If you're passionate about sustainability, enjoy meeting people, and want to make a genuine difference in ...
30/07/2026

We're Hiring! If you're passionate about sustainability, enjoy meeting people, and want to make a genuine difference in your local community, we'd love to hear from you.

We're looking for a friendly, enthusiastic and values-driven person to join our small team at The Bare Alternative.

As a small independent business, no two days are the same. The role includes serving customers, helping people discover products that suit their needs, keeping the shop looking its best, refilling our dispensers (which involves regular heavy lifting), and general cleaning and housekeeping duties.

Excellent customer service is at the heart of everything we do. We're looking for someone who enjoys talking to people, is confident approaching customers to offer help when needed, and takes pride in creating a welcoming shopping experience for everyone who visits. There will also be times when you'll be responsible for running the shop on your own, so confidence, the ability to take initiative and work independently are essential.

An important part of this role is helping us communicate with our community through social media. You'll regularly be involved in planning and creating content by appearing in photos and videos, sharing your knowledge of our products, and helping showcase the shop and the work we do. We're looking for someone who feels comfortable being on camera and is enthusiastic about sharing their passion for sustainable living with others.

As a community-focused, low-waste business, we're looking for someone who shares our passion for helping people reduce waste and make more sustainable choices. Knowledge of low-impact living, refill shopping or our product range would be an advantage, although training will be provided. Previous experience in a customer-facing retail role is highly desirable, but most important is a genuine enthusiasm for helping people and supporting our mission.

The role is expected to average around 16 hours per week, although we're reviewing our team rota and are open to discussing how those hours could be arranged to suit both the successful applicant and the needs of the business. Weekend availability is essential, and there may also be opportunities to work additional hours in the future to cover holidays and busy periods.

We're hoping for the successful applicant to start towards the end of August, with paid training provided beforehand to ensure you're confident and fully prepared before taking on shifts independently.

If you'd like to apply, please send your CV and a cover letter telling us why you'd like to join The Bare Alternative. As social media content forms an important part of this role, we'd also appreciate links to any public social media profiles, social media accounts you've managed, or a portfolio of content you've created, where relevant.

Applications should be sent to [email protected].

Even if this role isn't for you, we'd really appreciate it if you could share this post or tag someone who you think might be interested.

For Plastic Free July Day 27, we're looking at a bathroom swap that can make a huge difference.Around 200,000 tonnes of ...
27/07/2026

For Plastic Free July Day 27, we're looking at a bathroom swap that can make a huge difference.

Around 200,000 tonnes of disposable period products are thrown away every year in the UK, and many disposable pads and tampons contain plastic that makes them difficult to recycle.

The good news? There are lots of reusable and lower-waste options available, so you can choose what works best for you.

Reusable period products can help you:
♻️ Reduce waste
💷 Save money over time
🌍 Avoid thousands of disposable products over your lifetime

Our range includes:
🌙 Mooncup Reusable Menstrual Cup (£22.50)
🩷 Locally Handmade Cloth Sanitary Pads (£7.50–£12), available in different sizes and absorbencies to suit your needs

We also stock plastic-free alternatives including:
🌿 Mooncup Sanitary Pads
🌿 Dame Organic Cotton Tampons
🌿 Dame Reusable Tampon Applicator

There’s no one “right” way to make the switch. Whether you choose reusable, plastic-free disposables, or simply try one small change, every swap helps reduce waste.

We've been looking back at the photos from last weekend, and Pollen. Home & Garden Market. was the perfect way to round ...
26/07/2026

We've been looking back at the photos from last weekend, and Pollen. Home & Garden Market. was the perfect way to round it off. 🌱💚

After a fantastic Saturday at Sheffield's Big Vegan Market, it was great to spend Sunday at Pollen Market, chatting with so many people about the vegan and sustainable alternatives we offer.

It was lovely introducing new customers to The Bare Alternative, catching up with familiar faces and hearing about the simple swaps people are making to live a little more sustainably. Hopefully we'll be seeing plenty of you again, whether that's at another market or in the shop soon! 😊

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by for a browse or a chat, and to the organisers for putting on another brilliant Pollen Market. Supporting local independent businesses and being part of such a welcoming community is always a pleasure. 💚🌿

Do we really all need to own everything we use?Some things, like a lawn mower, ladder or pressure washer, might only com...
24/07/2026

Do we really all need to own everything we use?

Some things, like a lawn mower, ladder or pressure washer, might only come out once or twice a year. The rest of the time, they sit taking up space in a shed or garage.

Before buying something new, it's worth asking whether you could borrow it instead. Friends, family, neighbours or local community groups can often help.

Our local neighbourhood WhatsApp group has become brilliant for this. People have borrowed and lent everything from an emergency egg to ladders, tools and all sorts of other useful things. It's saved money, reduced waste and helped build stronger connections in the community too.

Borrowing what we need instead of buying everything ourselves is a simple way to reduce unnecessary consumption, save resources and avoid creating more waste.

💬 What's the last thing you borrowed, or lent to someone else?

Plastic Free July

Your laundry detergent doesn’t need to come in a plastic bottle 🧺🌿For Day 19 of Plastic Free July, we’re looking at one ...
19/07/2026

Your laundry detergent doesn’t need to come in a plastic bottle 🧺🌿

For Day 19 of Plastic Free July, we’re looking at one of the easiest plastic-free swaps to make at home: choosing a lower-waste laundry alternative.

Traditional liquid detergents often come in single-use plastic bottles and contain a lot of water, meaning we’re transporting something we could add at home.

There are now lots of alternatives that help reduce packaging waste:

🌿 Laundry sheets: lightweight, compact and plastic-free packaged options like Strip Wash and Ecoleaf
🧺 Laundry powder refills: refill only what you need with SESI washing powders
🥚 Reusable laundry eggs: a reusable system with refillable pellets

There isn’t one “perfect” option for everyone. The best choice is the one that fits your routine and helps you move away from single-use packaging.

Small swaps. Big impact 🌍

Plastic Free July Ecoleaf Sesi Detergent Refill

Address

Sheffield

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 7:30pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+447422405166

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