New refill centre is helping Doncaster to become more eco-friendly

Claytons Herbalist is the second oldest shop in Mexborough according to owner Claire Dexter - with Petite shoes holding the number one spot.

She said: “The shop has been in the family since my Grandmother Pat Robinson bought it off Mr Clayton in 1985.

“Then my mum Georgina Thornhill took it over and I worked here as a Saturday girl from the age of six.”

Now Claire runs the herbalist shop and is proud that she is the first shop in Mexborough to introduce a refill station.

“My son Lucas came home from school a couple of weeks ago and was just absolutely heartbroken about what was happening in Australia because of climate change.

“It got me thinking about what more we can do, we’re already pretty environmentally conscious at home.

“But I thought why not start going to a refill centre and cut down on the amount of plastic we use.

“Then I realised that there wasn’t one nearby so why not just start one in the shop.”

So far they are selling refillable household products such as washing up liquid and laundry liquid but are hoping to expand into body products such as shampoo and conditioner.

They are using Yorkshire company Bio-D to cut back on carbon miles.

Claire said: “We’re a unique little shop - when you walk in it feels like a time warp.

“We have kept all the old shelves so it feels traditional.

“We have a really loyal customer base who have been coming in for generations - if someone's grandma came in for a cough syrup odds are they come in for it now themselves.”

Claire is hoping that this new addition will encourage more people in Mexborough to be eco-friendly.

“It’s so much easier to nip into us on your doorstep than going all the way into Doncaster town centre,” she continued.

“It’s often cheaper than buying your regular household products as well.”