Sustainability doesn’t have to involve huge, life changing decisions. If we all make a few small changes it adds up to a big difference. So here are some ideas – from where you can fill your water bottle in the neighbourhood to being more conscious about what you buy or eat — plus there are loads of ways to show support and love for our community.
If you’d like to find out more about sustainability at King’s Cross, take a read here. https://www.kingscross.co.uk/sustainability
Flowers brighten your house and your mood, but often come with a hefty carbon footprint – unless they’re in season, they’re either flown in from far flung, warmer places or grown in energy-intensive green houses. Enter Roseur, which creates incredible bouquets from dried and seasonal flowers.
Flowers brighten your house and your mood, but often come with a hefty carbon footprint - unless they're in season, they're either flown in from far flung, warmer places or grown in energy-intensive green houses. Enter Roseur, which creates incredible bouquets from dried and seasonal flowers. They also hold workshops where you can learn more about floristry and create your own beautiful bouquet.
King’s Cross is full of fantastic vegan options, whether you want to go full vegan or simply cut out meat for a meal.
King's Cross is full of fantastic vegan options, whether you want to go full vegan or simply cut out meat for a meal.
Almost all of our restaurants and cafes now have vegan options on their menus, and there are some specialist places to check out too.
There are plenty of B Corp listed stores in King’s Cross, and lots of ways you can treat your loved ones (or yourself) with a clear conscience. Check out our Ethical Gift Guide for some suggestions.
There’s no excuse for buying plastic water bottles at King’s Cross – not only are there 6 water fountains on the estate, lots of our cafes and restaurants will fill your bottle for free – look out for the stickers in their windows (or check the list below). Forgotten your water bottle? Why not buy a refillable water bottle from Outsiders Store or Cissy Wears?
There's no excuse for buying plastic water bottles at King's Cross - not only are there 6 water fountains on the estate, lots of our cafes and restaurants will fill your bottle for free - look out for the stickers in their windows (or check the list below). Forgotten your water bottle? Why not buy a refillable water bottle from Outsiders Store or Cissy Wears?
Food and Drink vendors that will refill your water bottle:
Powered and heated using renewable energy, built sustainably and with historic emissions offset through verified carbon credit projects, King’s Cross has been carbon neutral since 2021 and is working towards net zero.
Powered and heated using renewable energy, built sustainably and with historic emissions offset through verified carbon credit projects, King's Cross has been carbon neutral since 2021 and is working towards net zero.
All the power needed for the estate comes via our district energy network. The heating and hot water for the accommodation, offices, shops, restaurants services and facilities on the site comes from renewable 'green gas', and our electricity comes from 100% renewable REGO certified sources.
You can read all about our energy network and carbon offsetting programme here.
Queer Britain, the UK’s first bricks and mortar museum of Queer history, is a fascinating archive of LGBTQIA+ history, art and culture.
Queer Britain, the UK's first bricks and mortar museum of Queer history, is a fascinating archive of LGBTQIA+ history, art and culture.
Alongside a comprehensive photographic record of the struggle for equal rights, you'll find artefacts to make you cry, such as the door Oscar Wilde languished behind in Reading Gaol, and some to make you joyful, like Divine's octopus dress.
When you slow things down and take a closer look, you’ll discover nature in some unlikely places. Download this map and follow Global Generation’s nature walks at your own pace.
Camley Street Natural Park is two acres of wild green space, right in the heart of King’s Cross – a place to disconnect from city life and immerse yourself in nature.
Camley Street Natural Park is two acres of wild green space, right in the heart of King’s Cross - a place to disconnect from city life and immerse yourself in nature.
Follow the paths through this very special nature reserve and find your way to Viewpoint – the floating hideaway in miniature where you can experience the canal and its wildlife from a different angle. Camley Street also has opportunities for volunteering, so get in touch with them if you'd like to spend even more time in this special corner of London.
Meet our local heroes. Redemption Roasters on Lower Stable Street doesn’t just make an excellent cup of coffee.
Meet our local heroes. Redemption Roasters on Lower Stable Street doesn't just make an excellent cup of coffee.
This remarkable social enterprise gives young offenders a second shot at life. Coffee is roasted at HMP The Mount where inmates are trained in professional roastery and barista skills, helping them to find employment and reintegrate into society after release.
Bring any pre-loved vintage or designer pieces to Boutique by Shelter in Coal Drops Yard, treat yourself to some new-to-you gems and help raise vital funds to fight homelessness.
Bring any pre-loved vintage or designer pieces to Boutique by Shelter in Coal Drops Yard, treat yourself to some new-to-you gems and help raise vital funds to fight homelessness.
The store also has volunteering opportunities if you'd like to get involved. Hours are flexible and roles are varied - from window dressing to social media to visual merchandising.
Every Wednesday, people of all ages gather at the Story Garden to get their hands dirty and help this wonderful community garden to grow.
Every Wednesday, people of all ages gather at the Story Garden to get their hands dirty and help this wonderful community garden to grow.
You'll hone your gardening skills and meet new people as you contribute to the community. Everyone gathers around the fire afterwards for a chat and a drink.
At this organic beauty and wellbeing store, every product is carefully chosen for its ethical origins and natural ingredients.
At this organic beauty and wellbeing store, every product is carefully chosen for its ethical origins and natural ingredients.
Try them out at one of their free pampering events. There are massages, classes and mini-facials on offer. They're also currently offering 50% off on all first facials!
You can’t get much more sustainable than second hand, and at Beyond Retro that certainly doesn’t mean compromising on style: the huge selection of vintage gear in their Coal Drops Yard store is hand picked by fashion experts.
Whether you’re riding to work, pootling along the canal or taking on the Alps, cycling is good for body and soul.
Whether you're riding to work, pootling along the canal or taking on the Alps, cycling is good for body and soul.
VIA Bicycle Atelier on Stable Street has a range of bikes on sale alongside all the kit you need to get you going, from helmets and saddles to sunglasses and shoes. The trained advisors will ensure that you get the best model and fit for your needs and there's a mechanic in store too, in case your bike needs some TLC.
The Botanical Boys at Coal Drops Yard are passionate about reconnecting people to nature. Alongside selling a beautiful selection of terrariums and homewares, they hold a terrarium building workshops, which are a wonderful way to destress, get creative, and bring a little living garden home with you.
The pandemic showed us just how important our connection to the natural world is. These terrarium workshops from the Botanical Boys are calming and relaxing and aim to help people connect with each other and with nature.
The boys' love of plants is infectious - you'll come away with new knowledge about terrariums and plant care, as well as your very own garden in miniature.
Cubitts don’t just make some of the best glasses on the market, they do so with the planet in mind. Recently certified as a B-Corp, the brand have taken several measures to make sure your shades are as eco-friendly as they can be.
Cubitts don't just make some of the best glasses on the market, they do so with the planet in mind. Recently certified as a B-Corp, the brand have taken several measures to make sure your shades are as eco-friendly as they can be.
Alongside their instore repair service, which keeps your frames fighting fit, the brand recently launched a frame donation service, Cubitts Anew, which allows customers to donate frames they no longer use back to stores to be re-polished, restored and resold (at a discount), improving circularity.
All the cleaning cloths that Cubitts sell online and in store are sold for charity, including their Coal Drops Yard cloth (designed by the store's team), all proceeds of which go to Action Aid.
This May, they're also launching a collaboration with clothing brand TOAST. Cubitt's have created glasses frames from their own recycled material, and TOAST have made cases for the glasses from their offcut fabric, so the entire product is environmentally conscious.
Earl of East‘s own collection of home fragrance, candles and bathing products are sustainably made, and their homeware items are created from eco-friendly materials that are kinder to the environment, such as aluminium, glass, wood, organic textiles and repurposed plastics.
Earl of East's own collection of home fragrance, candles and bathing products are sustainably made, and their homeware items are created from eco-friendly materials that are kinder to the environment, such as aluminium, glass, wood, organic textiles and repurposed plastics. You can even create your own soy candle at one of their ever-popular candle making workshops. The store also champions independent designers and makers that create small batches of their products, incurring less waste.
Earl of East has also joined the Ecologi community to help reduce its carbon footprint. Every purchase through the website contributes to their online forest, where so far 23,920 trees have been planted. You can see more on this and the other ways that the brand are working sustainably here.
The innate beauty of jewellery often belies a murky production process, but not so with Maya Magal: the store only work with ethically sourced and certified gemstones, and produce all their new collections from 100% recycled solid gold and silver, meaning now new mining for metal is involved.
The innate beauty of jewellery often belies a murky production process, but not so with Maya Magal: the store only work with ethically sourced and certified gemstones, and produce all their new collections from 100% recycled solid gold and silver, meaning now new mining for metal is involved.
They also offer a lifetime cleaning and care guarentee, which extends the lifespan of their jewellery, and craft their collections in measured, limited quantities to avoid over production. Find out more here.
Hato Store are now selling knits from Waste Yarn Project, a company that repurposes waste yarn from the fashion industry to create one of a kind knitwear. So you can look unique as well as being ethical!
Sons + Daughters have two free water taps at the front of their shop where you can help yourself to water and fill up your bottle. The water is provided by Belu, and is chilled and filtered, with both still and sparkling available. The store also sells keep cups and offers money off coffee for anyone who brings in their own cup.
Sons + Daughters have two free water taps, which are at the front of the shop for people to help themselves to water/fill up their bottles. The water is provided by Belu, and is chilled and filtered, with both still and sparkling available. The store also sells keep cups and offers money off coffee for anyone who brings in their own cup.
In response to the cost of living crisis, the store have also recently rejigged their menu, bringing down the price of their sandwiches, and making them smaller which has massively reduced food waste. They also offer very tasty vegan sandwiches and soup.
STORE STORE is a shop and educational space that runs free after school clubs in art, design and fashion for state school kids aged 15-18. Their range of ‘Rain Hats’ were created during the Rains x STORE STORE After School Club.
STORE STORE is a shop and educational space that runs free after school clubs in art, design and fashion for state school kids aged 15-18. Their range of 'Rain Hats' were created during the Rains x STORE STORE After School Club.
The pupils designed and made a bespoke collection of 'Rain Hats' using waste jackets and bags from the Rains production line. Guided by the collective Congregation Design, they were introduced to sustainability within design, pattern-cutting and tailoring. Other projects include pottery and candle making. All proceeds go back into supporting STORE STORE's educational programme.
At STORE STORE's after school clubs, students learn to develop their own products with practicing artists and designers, learn practical skills and build portfolios in art, design and architecture. Products designed and prototyped in the After School Club are sold in STORE STORE with royalties going to the students. Priority is given to Pupil Premium students, and anyone interested in joining should contact the store on school@storeprojects.org.
