BEEP BEEP! Chockablock. Chockablock. Chockablock. Here comes our chum Charlie, all charged-up and chugging into view. Everybody CHEER!
Charlie is chockafull with choice plastic-free household essentials. The first electric, single-use-plastic-free grocery van to hit the streets of the UK. And, if you’re lucky enough to live in Tufnell Park, Kentish Town, Dartmouth Park, Hampstead, Hilldrop or the Caledonian neighbourhood then it’s time to choose your slot.
From a cherished van to a complete environmental eco-system… we checked in with Claire, charismatic founder & chief-filler at Fair-Well, yoga teacher, mother, retail rebel and waste-free cheerleader! She chats to us about making changes, life on refill road, the heroic risk takers fighting for a better world and why it’s not only about refill…
WHO ARE AND WHAT EVEN IS FAIR-WELL?
Fair-Well is a mobile refill grocery, a physical community space and a mindset. We make ethical, plastic-free shopping easy, joyful and accessible. Whether it’s on your doorstep, from the van, or inside our brick-and-mortar space.
Fair-Well was the first independent, electric, plastic-free delivery grocery van to hit the streets in the UK. For the past seven years, it’s been driving around North London neighbourhoods delivering everyday essentials without the waste, proving that convenience doesn’t have to cost the planet.
WHY DID YOU WIND UP DOING WHAT YOU DO?
One day I looked at my recycling bin and felt like it was growing into a monster. I was genuinely horrified by how much plastic was spilling out of it. I’d throw it away and it would ‘disappear’… But, was it really disappearing, or was I just hiding the problem from sight? That realisation made me deeply uncomfortable. So, I decided to create something convenient, realistic and actually doable. At the time I was a mum of two young children and I needed solutions that were easy, accessible and fun. Fair-Well was born from that need!
WHY IS FAIR-WELL A COOL PLACE TO BE?
The van itself is quirky, cute and impossible to miss. It turns grocery shopping into something really fun. We stock over 200 products, all carefully chosen. Now Fair-Well also lives in a physical space called Hello. Together, Hello & Fair-Well are a little nod to Frank Ocean’s ‘Strawberry Swing’ song that reflects on the planet. Inside our space you’ll find a refill shop, a yoga studio, and a café. It’s a place to gather, practice yoga and shop ethically.
“When we were kids
We hand-painted strawberries on a swing
Every moment was so precious”
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO REUSE?
It felt like the most logical response to the plastic mess we’ve created. There’s already more than enough plastic on this planet. The solution isn’t making more, it’s learning to reuse what we already have.
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON?
Fair-Well is evolving from a beloved van into a full ecosystem. The van is still rolling but now it’s anchored by Hello – a space where yoga, coffee, community and conscious shopping collide. It’s not just about refills anymore; it’s about creating a lifestyle that feels good and does good for people and for the planet.
COOLEST OTHER REFILLABLE?
Upcircle beauty with refillable deodorant; sustainable, clever and just a great product.
WHY FILL?
We share the same values; caring for the planet and keeping people safe. I love the scents, the quality and the team is wonderful (THANKS!). It’s rare to find a company that ticks all the boxes and FILL REFILL do.
WHO IS YOUR INSPIRATION?
Everyone politically engaged for the planet. Those taking risks for all of us. I do my best to play my part but the people fighting daily for a better world, challenging laws that put us at risk, tackling issues like “forever chemicals” what would we do without them?
THINGS YOU COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT?
I’d happily live naked; I don’t like being dependent on stuff. My phone, though… that might be hard and I hate admitting that. It basically runs my life: schedule, emails, deliveries, customers, yoga bookings. But if I could, I’d throw it out the window and watch it fly.
LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO?
Strawberry Swing by Frank Ocean
