The Sheffield Sustainability Market returned to the city centre for a third time, featuring a range of eco-friendly products made by businesses from the area.

The event was organised by volunteer group Sheffield Action on Plastic and took place on Saturday 26 April at Victoria Hall on North Street.

Greg Hewitt, chair of Sheffield Action on Plastic, said: “We’re in a climate and ecological crisis and the amount of plastic pollution that’s now in our environment is shocking.

“Shopping at the market is an opportunity to do your bit to reduce single-use plastics and to support local makers.”

Across 25 stalls, businesses sold an eclectic range of products from jewellery to hand-painted pots, homemade soaps and organic cotton socks. 

The market featured no single-use plastics and instead promoted the use of reusable and sustainable alternatives.

A raffle was held, featuring products donated by stall holders, and there was also live music from Saxauphonics, a Sheffield-based saxophone quartet. 

One stall holder, Megan Beardsmore, the owner of Sheffield Skincare Company, based in Crookesmoor, said: “It’s a really lovely market that’s highlighting local people that are doing sustainable businesses.” 

“It’s just about sharing it with the people of Sheffield and spreading the word about being a little more sustainable, getting rid of as much plastic as we can and trying to live a better and cleaner life.”

Sheffield Action on Plastic was established by Mr Hewitt in 2022 to tackle plastic pollution in Sheffield and the group currently has about 15 volunteers.

Alongside hosting their sustainable markets, they also offer a reusable cup hire service, provide plastic audits and give awards to local businesses and community organisations which are working to reduce single-use plastics. 

Mr Hewitt said: “We can’t keep burning oil and making plastic, we need to look at alternative solutions and reducing our impact on the environment and Sheffield is the prime place to do that.”

The group are involved in many environmental campaigns and are currently trying to reinstate reusable cups at Sheffield Arena and supporting Greenpeace’s appeal for a Global Plastics Treaty. 

A winter edition of the Sheffield Sustainability Market will take place, later this year, on Saturday 22 November at Victoria Hall.