A NEW shop that aims to help people cut down on their plastic and packaging has opened in Carlisle.

The vast majority of plastic waste doesn't get reused or recycled and ends up in seas and oceans destroying our planet.

Sir David Attenborough's Blue Planet II TV programme hammered home the tragedy of plastic pollution in our oceans and now one Carlisle woman is keen to make a difference to the way people shop.

Rachael Rheinbach, 27, is keen for the people of Carlisle to do their bit and cut down on the amount of packaging they use.

She said: "About a year ago I started reading about the whole issue of plastic and I felt really passionate about it. I spoke to my partner and I decided I wanted to help the world in some way."

Rachael has opened a shop on Botchergate called Enviro-Rheino.

In it she sells dried food and vegan and cruelty free shampoo.

She said: "The idea is people bring in their own containers and can fill them with pasta, lentils, oats and rice without needing packaging.

"One lady came in who was sending her shampoo bottles to Kelso to be refilled. Now she can do it here."

Rachael says since she opened she's had a positive response both in the shop and on social media.

She said: "I stock bamboo cups and toothbrushes as well as laundry liquid and fabric softener and zero waste soap.

"These kind of shops are popular around the country but this is the first one that I know of in Carlisle."

The shop also sells wooden toys for children and furniture.

Rachael, who used to live in Leicester, said: "I don't want to make my shop an empire and I'm not doing it to make a huge profit - I just want to help the people of Carlisle make a difference.

"When I lived in Leicester you could go to markets and shopping plastic free was a lot easier."

The shop is open every day except Monday.