A WELL-KNOWN Penarth shop are swapping plastic for biodegradable materials in order to become plastic free.

Hamptons Penarth are another venue in the town who are joining the Plastic Free Penarth campaign.

Owners Andy Bradshaw and Peter Knowles say they want to stop contributing to the volume of waste going into the environment and have been swapping items in their shop and cafe.

Mr Knowles said: "We've always tried to be environmentally conscious throughout Hamptons such as recycling and using biodegradable materials where possible. But we've still been generating plastic waste and whilst we dispose of this responsibly we decided we needed to go further.

"The amount of plastic you see washed up on our own beach let alone the images of acres of plastic waste floating in the world's oceans convinced us that we should make a greater effort. Hopefully our efforts will help to inspire others to also do more."

To amp up their support, Mr Bradshaw even created a shop display in favour of supporting the Plastic Free Penarth campaign - which officially launched earlier this month.

"At Hamptons we're really excited about Penarth working towards becoming a plastic free town and we're thrilled to be supporting the campaign in a practical way," said Mr Knowles.

"Everyone can make a difference and if businesses and individuals all do a small thing each we'll be making a major contribution to reducing the amount of plastic waste, so much of which ends up floating in our oceans."

At the moment the shop and cafe are using paper straws, glass drink bottles, vegetable based takeaway cake boxes and paper bags. They are also changing to biodegradable cellophane for gift wrapping and non-plastic glitter for their Christmas display.

"With the awareness about plastic more and more companies are starting to produce non plastic alternatives to everyday products," added Mr Knowles.

" Some items have been very straightforward - but other products have been harder to source - but not impossible, it just takes some effort.

"Cost can be an issue but in global terms an increased cost is a small price to pay for a more sustainable world."