Vegetable oil is difficult to source plastic free. Buy in glass and the metal caps will have a little plasticized disc or plastic liner on inside and maybe a plastic seal. Plus the bottle will almost always have a plastic pouring widget in the bottle top.Like I can’t pour oil out of a bottle??? Buy in cans and they have a plastic lid, perhaps a handle and the can is of course lined with plastic. You can read more here
On Tap
But if you are very lucky you might find a place that sell oils on tap that lets you use your own refillable bottle. Do you need me to explain that? They sell oil from the can and you take your own bottle, which they refill with oil.
Whahey plastic free oil!
That said in 2015 Defra banned ‘On tap’ olive oil. The following is taken form their website….”These oils mustn’t be sold ‘on tap’ in their pure form: extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, olive oil composed of refined olive oils and virgin olive oils, olive pomace oil. Today (2016) seems oil is back on tap. So, for now you can buy olive oil on tap from a variety of store.
Using your own bottle?
It would seem that some stores allow you to refill your own bottle. Whole Food Market do and I refilled my glass bottle there. But I cannot vouch for the others listed below! Any information on the subject is much appreciated.
Oil refills in the U.K.
The butchers St Agnes, Devon
Wholefood Supermarket Cheltenham & London
Demijohn – Victoria St, Edinburgh refill oil & vinegar (and spirits at Demijohn).
Olive oil Stoneygate, Leicester http://www.deliflavour.net/may also do refills but not checked
Sheena Hatton Claremont Farm in Wirral (oils and vinegars) and Spar in Llanfyllin.Åsa PamphilonHoland andBarrer in Chelmsford.” I havent yet refilled but it is clearly two different prices for their bottle and oil/vinegar or just a refill so I assume I will have no problems.
More
Or you could try lard. Other greasy options and ways to buy plastic reduced oils and spreads can be found here the edible oil index here.
And everything you need to know about fatty acids here
N.B.
lines changes, products get removed. For more information why not ask the Plastic Is Rubbish FB group for updates. They are a great source of tidbits, personal experience and the latest news. Why not join them and share the plastic free love x
And before you go…
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and I am coming to visit. next week. with bottles!
I sell Yorkshire rapeseed oil refills into your own containers at Waste Not in Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire (www.wastenotshop.net)
try the plastic is rubbish Facebook group. loads of really helpful people with up to date info. Lots of zero waste shops opening all round the country.
I tried following the link to the oil refill place in Leicester but it doesn’t work. I guess they’ve gone like so many shops. Can’t find anywhere near me to refill oil bottles at the moment.
No I don’t but I did read that the law had changed. Best to contact people who are already selling it as they will have up to date information. Good luck. Do let me know how you get on.
Do you have any links to Defra or Food Standards agency about a change in rules about ‘on tap’ olive oil (unflavoured)? From what I can find online right now, it is still prohibited to sell ‘on tap’ ?
Many thanks for that - I will add it to the list!
I’ve seen it in some larger Holland and Barrats - Bath and Chelmsford to be specific
thank you so much. Refill spirits? Gin? praise be. Edinburgh next stop!
Demijohn - Victoria St, Edinburgh and a grocery shop on Marchmont Road, Edinburgh also refill oil & vinegar (and spirits at Demijohn).