THE first Zero Waste shop and Eco Hub is now open in Saltburn.

The Cut Back – also a surfing manoeuvre – looks to provide a wide range of eco-friendly, organic, vegan, and sustainable products. This is a refill shop for every type of dried goods, and customers are asked to remember to bring containers, although paper bags are always available.

“We are working with our suppliers to try and provide the products the community want from the shop; we are trying to find innovative ways of helping people reduce both their carbon footprint and the amount of single use plastics in a straightforward and cost effective way,” said Tracy Reeve, who runs the shop.

A confirmed environmentalist since childhood, growing vegetables at ten, and passionate about animal rights, Tracy’s professional life reflects this. She has been an ambassador for the WWF and worked in secondary schools as the eco school representative, presenting upcycling workshops, recycling programs, addressing climate change, single use plastics, and other eco issues. After redundancy from The Youth Hostel Association due to Covid restrictions, she completed key business and food safety courses, and began working towards realising her ambition to open a refill and eco shop.

Funding sources included Redcar and Cleveland Council, who also helped generate a business plan, business loans, grants, and crowdfunding which was so successful that the initiative became eligible for the NatWest ‘Back Her Business’ grant.

“The crowdfunding was incredible,” Tracy recalled. “I was overwhelmed by the support. It allowed me to connect with the public to show what I wanted to do with the Cut Back, to show what the business was going to develop into and how it could help the community.”

She is working closely with local producers to both showcase local skills and talents, and to reduce air miles. Her wide ranging stock of drinks, dried goods, herbs and spices, cleaning materials, and soaps is further supplemented by A Whole Lot of Rosie Luxury Teas, the Teesside Coffee Company, soap dishes and utensil holders by the Mini Shed Potter and Claudefsceramics, healthy pet treats by Heckin’ Good Treats, and jewellery made from reclaimed precious metals.

There is also sea glass from Sandy Salty Happy and Bean Creative, vegan candles by both Wax + Wolf, and Kourelou, Dani’s Delights vegan chocolates, Sugar Noms vegan sweets, Little Sew and Sew’s face masks, wipes, and other products.

The development of the eco hub is a priority. “It is important to me to run as a community interest company to give back as much as possible to the local community.” she explained. Objectives include supporting local environmental groups and initiatives with donations and free meeting space, and acting as a community information hub about local and global environmental activities with advice for involvement. A small café with vegan and gluten free food and drinks is planned, as are a range of eco workshops for children and adults.

As a swimmer, paddleboarder, and surfer, Tracy feels a strong connection to the planet when in the sea. “This connection helps drive me on with the work at the Cut Back,” she added.

Asked for straightforward tips to help the environment she recommended: “Refilling toiletries and cleaning products at refill shops helps to save so much single use plastics from landfill and our oceans. Planning your meals and reusing leftovers can do a huge amount to save food waste which is a massive environmental issue, not to mention a costly one.”

The Cut Back, 10, Dundas Street West, Saltburn, TS12 1BL; Tel: 07737754423 Email: hello@cutback.co.uk; Website: www.thecutback.org. Open; Tuesday 9am-5pm, Wednesday 9am-12 noon, Thursday 9am-7pm, Friday and Saturday, 9am-5pm. Closed Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday afternoon.