Pupils at two more schools in Trafford are selling bubble bath, shower gel, hand soap and washing up liquid to family and friends – re-using plastic containers and saving on waste.
Brooklands Primary School in Sale and Davyhulme Primary School have joined Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s ECO Refill Shops network which combines enterprise skills and environmental awareness.
The third wave of action follows shops set up by St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Sale, Urmston Primary School and Sale Grammar School in 2024 and 2025.
Brooklands and Davyhulme are among 19 schools across Greater Manchester to sign up – involving 239 children in a ‘refill revolution’ helping communities to discover the power of re-use and re-purposing more than 1,000 plastic containers.
Under the scheme, devised by enterprise in education organisation Pupils Profit, pupils undergo training, decide on roles, present a business plan and run their shop at a profit.
Parents and community members bring empty containers to buy low-cost household products, chosen and stocked the children who tackle marketing and publicity, advise customers, handle cash and keep track of orders and supplies.
Emma Brundrett, eco lead at Davyhulme Primary School said:
“The project has created real excitement. It’s been great to see the creativity and teamwork that the children have developed. We definitely have some entrepreneurs of the future!
“It’s helping the whole school community think of our core value that ‘we are caring’ and how this relates to looking after the environment through reducing plastic waste. The children love that they can see a real life impact in terms of plastic use and also making a profit.”
Helen Cunningham, eco lead at Brooklands Primary School, whose shop is pictured above, said:
“The children have learned so many entrepreneurial skills, it’s fantastic, and we’re only just at the start of the journey. There’s a real buzz around this project.”
A spokesperson for Trafford Council said:
“We’re delighted to encourage our schools taking part in this great scheme – a fabulous way to think globally and act locally. Parents, guardians, families and friends are getting into good habits by re-using containers and children are developing a whole range of skills in addition to their usual curriculum studies.”