Three cafés on one of Jesmond’ busiest streets have won plastic-free awards.

The sticker scheme, organised by Plastic-Free Jesmond & Sandyford, awards local businesses up to three stickers of achievement when they make plastic-free commitments. Sticker one is awarded to businesses who promise to refill water bottles and sign up to the Northumbria Water Scheme. Sticker two is granted when discounts are offered to customers for using reusable coffee cups, while the third sticker is granted to businesses that commit to banning plastic straws, packaging and cutlery.Willi’s Café, Batch Bakery Café and Country Whey Deli on Clayton Road have each been given Plastic-Free stickers to display in their windows and show support for the initiative. Country Whey Deli has one sticker for offering customers free water bottle refills, while both Willis and Batch can display all three Plastic-Free Jesmond & Sandyford stickers.

A spokesperson for Plastic-Free Jesmond & Sandyford said: “The scheme helps draw attention to local retail areas in our community that are here for customers wanting to reduce plastic in their lives.”

While the scheme is currently targeting cafes and food establishments, the eco-focused organisation says it is open to working with other businesses in the local area who are wanting to become plastic-free. It says it is particularly keen to expand the sticker scheme into West Jesmond where it already helps with community clean-ups and educational talks, advising residents how they can cut down on plastic use and waste.

Our shiny new #Plasticfree Leaf Award stickers have arrived – ready to start awarding to local bars & cafés in #Sandyford & #Jesmond for their efforts to move #plastic free! ??? pic.twitter.com/mrt5rNAOFN

— Plastic Free Jesmond & Sandyford (@PlasticFreeJes) October 11, 2018

A representative from Cake Stories, situated on Brentwood Avenue in west Jesmond, told JesmondLocal it would be happy to get involved, saying that “it’s good to hold businesses accountable for the plastic waste they produce.”

Cake Stories says it has always used plastic-free packaging for takeaways as well as offering  customers water bottle refills, and took a decision six months ago to stop using plastic straws and change coffee cups for recyclable ones.