THE Black Country's first ever plastic free waste shop has opened its doors in Stourbridge.

Eco Maniax was unveiled in the Ryemarket shopping centre on Saturday, November 30, offering shoppers the chance to stock up on everyday food and items without contributing to more plastic waste.

The family-run business is led by husband and wife team Caz and Dean Barratt, who decided to launch the store following their frustration at the difficulty of finding eco-friendly essentials in the shops.

Caz said: "We tried to do a plastic free waste lifestyle as a family, but we found it so hard to find things locally. We needed to go elsewhere, like Digbeth or Bromsgrove for what we needed."

Caz, who lives in Brierley Hill, said she has been blown away by the support the store has received in its opening week.

She said: "Everybody has given us such great feedback and have said we are very competitively priced.

"A lot of people have been waiting for something like this in Stourbridge."

Eco Maniax is currently stocking a range of organic dried foods, such as pasta, pulses, grains and cereals as well detergents, cleaning products, shampoos and conditioners.

Customers will need to bring their own containers, so they are able to use the refilling stations.

Other plastic-free items in the store include toothbrushes, face wipes, cups, beeswax food wraps and sanitary products.

Kelley Dyas, Ryemarket Shopping Centre Manager, said: “From the first time I met Caz and heard the concept of the business, myself and the Ryemarket owners were fully behind it – we feel it will be a real asset to the centre and the town.”

“Sustainability and recycling are becoming important factors in everyone’s day to day lives and we would like to wish them every success with their new business within the Ryemarket”.