Scoop Superfood brings bulk food shopping to Manila—minus the plastic
Every year, the Philippines generates roughly 2.3 million tons of plastic waste. While local eco-shoppers are no stranger to package-free bulk stores, Australian-born brand Scoop Wholefoods is raising the bar for Manila’s zero-waste movement.
Globally, the packaging footprint is devastating—a reality that husband-and-wife duo Jeremy and Bettina Kirk set out to change when they founded Scoop Wholefoods in 2013 in Australia. Their zero-waste vision also carries an unexpected positive side effect: it solves an increasingly painful economic problem for everyday shoppers.
"In many instances, the cost of the packaging is more expensive than the product itself," Jeremy explained during the brand's Philippine launch on Oct. 30. "The fancier the packaging, the higher the markup."
Stepping into the newly opened store at Power Plant Mall, you won't find shelves of single-use plastic products. Instead, you are greeted by bins of organic grains and snacks, dispensers of oils and vinegar, nut butter machines, and kombucha flowing on tap.
By stripping away the single-use plastic, Scoop Wholefoods allows customers to buy high quality whole foods, beauty and personal care products, and eco-friendly household cleaners by exact weight. Bettina noted that food waste is also "as important as plastic (waste)" in our environment today and thinks that we should all "be aware of that, too."
"'Weigh to Save' is our motto, and by that, obviously, you buy as much weight as you like," Bettina said. "So you're buying efficiently and you're buying exactly what you need."
Since they launched, they already saved about 30 million plastic bags.
The store’s refill system is straightforward. Shoppers can bring their own containers, use in-store brown paper bags, or buy refillable jars and bottles on the spot. From there, customers note the item code, scoop the quantity they need, and have it weighed at the counter.
To ensure transparency, each bin is labeled with the product's origin, item code, price, and a short summary, while full nutritional information can be found right under the lid.
Scoop Super Beauty
The idea then extended to beauty, which is known a massive contributor to landfill overflow. In 2023, the Kirks' daughter, Daisy Clasper, launched Scoop Super Beauty—also available in the Rockwell store.
The lineup is clean, non-toxic, vegan, and palm oil-free. Designed with sensitive skin in mind, the handcrafted formulations feature pure mineral ingredients, organic components, and water-treated bamboo and stainless steel packaging that can be safely sanitized.
For them, transparency is central to the line. "Every single ingredient is ethically sourced and fully documented, including our mica," Daisy noted. "We need to know exactly where everything comes from; if we don’t, we don’t use it."
Among the best-sellers are the 3-in-1 Mud Cake Mascara, which comes in a compact packaging and can be used on your lashes, lash line, and even brows; and the Full-Loop Pure Mineral Powder Foundation SPF24+. This can be used as a loose powder, or when mixed with Jojoba Oil, as a liquid foundation.
"This is back to how mascara originally used to be," Daisy said while demonstrating the clay mascara. "We've become very used to everything being quick and fast and convenient. I understand of course, this is not going to be for everyone because we live in a fast-paced life, but Scoop Super Beauty is trying to say 'Hey, you need to slow down a little bit and pay attention to what is inside your products and what we're putting onto our body.' And think about beauty as a ritual and be conscious about what you're using and how you're using it."
Sustainability isn't the only draw. According to Daisy, the store's extensive product selection—spanning specialty grains, pasta, nuts, loose-leaf teas, spices, and artisanal chocolates—is what ultimately drives foot traffic.
"Our product range is what really anchors us," Daisy noted, emphasizing that the store attracts shoppers seeking premium, unique food items, allowing sustainability to naturally follow.