Our vision.
Core principles
01. circular
A circular economy attempts to repurpose, reuse, and reprocess what is currently considered waste in order to provide new raw materials and reduce the pressure on nature, people, and the Earth. Changing the ways in which we consume, design and interact.
02. comprehensive
Comprehensive means looking at all areas of the community. Starting with soil health and food, we then aim to move into other avenues. Such as renewable energy, transport, and even currency!
03. inclusive / integral
We consider the needs of all members of our community, offering our services and products in ways that are accessible. Being Integral means recognising the complexity of our inner and outer lives, and considering the many living systems in which we are embedded.
04. distributed
Distribution means creating systems that are accessible and useful for the whole community. Building hyper-local and self-organising sites throughout Frome, that help mitigate the negative effects of centralisation.
05. local-global
Through building a regenerative community model that can be replicated, we aim to contribute to the emergence of real grass roots systems change. We have, and continue to work with organisations both nationally, and internationally.
Loop Who?
A regeneration network for misplaced resources.
We aim is to be a lead initiator and catalyst in the creation a new local circular economy, reimagining key systems embedded in our community. Our main service is focused on soil health. Through turning previously wasted food into rich living compost, we stop this resource leaving Frome’s economy. In so doing, we redirect vital nutrients into back the soil; healing the land, supporting eco-systems, and strengthening our shared more-than-human microbiome.
Loop What?
We provide a weekly food waste collection service for businesses in Frome, and are working to create a network of compost creation stations throughout the town. We also offer zero-emissions deliveries of our living compost via electric trike.
We are proud members of the Mycelium Composting Network, an emerging collective of initiatives co-creating the compost revolution. Beyond this, we hope to co-create new models, ideas, and regenerative practices in other areas of our community, both locally and globally.
“The ground's generosity takes in our compost and grows beauty! Try to be more like the ground.”
— Rumi
Loop Why?
The key principle of Loop:Frome is… you guessed it, Loops. This refers to the circular economy, an economic model that not only up-cycles, but transforms, and regenerates. Turning food waste into living compost is our beautiful example of just this!
When we start to value our waste, it gives back to us. Rather than valuable resources continually slipping through our fingertips, paying for them to be taken to landfills, we can retain them, creating new streams of untapped potential for communities.
Starting from the ground up…
The collapse of soil health is one of the most urgent calls to action we face. Food waste is commonly incinerated and made into low quality ‘compost’. This scorched material is lacking in many nutrients and microbes which could be cultivated and fed back into our soil, food chain, and economy.
As we reach a high point in the climate and ecological crisis, every step we can take towards personal, collective, and planetary well-being is essential. In other words, the Loopier the better.
Meet the Team
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Peter Macfadyen
Co-Founder, Director
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Benjamin Still
Co-founder, Director
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Emily Fuller
Director
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Zak Gratton
Finance, Funding, Operations
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Harry Johnstone
Director, Strategic development
The story so far…
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![Doug and Izzie building the composter in sunshine]()
Edventure Frome
Our Journey began with Edventure Frome’s 16th Start-up course. Izzie, Chloe, Ben, Ellen, Tugba, and Louise united as a small team to set up a new community enterprise, that would create a greener more resilient Frome.
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![Peter Macfadyen stood next to Joraform composter in sunshine]()
The Mac
Throughout this start-up journey the edventure team worked in dialogue with the founder of Flatpack Democracy - Peter Macfadyen: the lead initiator of this project.
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![Compost HQ, trike and Ridan composter]()
Compost HQ
With the support of Frome town council, our first site, Compost HQ, was built at Victoria Park. After installation of the Ridan composter, the door was opened to begin our food-waste collections.
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![Loop team at Loop launch event]()
The Loop family
From our initial edventure team, our first client (Mahesh of Lungi Baba’s), to Andy Wrintmore the ‘punk Rock’ Mayor of Frome… the Loop family continues to grow.
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![Ben and Chloe being filmed for soilful the film]()
Soilful
The creation of our short documentary marked a new stepping stone for Loop: building our narrative, spreading the power of compost and circular economy.
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![NHS sustainability team at Loop's first compost creation station]()
Creation stations
Birth of the regeneration nation… our first satellite composting site, built for Frome medical practice, is the beginning of a network of hubs throughout Frome.
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![Plants on shelf at Loop's launch event]()
Onwards...
With lots of exciting new projects up our composty sleeves, we’re looking forward to the coming year. New services, our first batch of compost, more online content, and who know what else…
The Loop Family
Thea, Hamper Sandwich shop: Getting involved with Loop’s food waste collection service was a no brainer for us. As a small independent food business in Frome, it’s important for us to be as sustainable as possible. Knowing not only where our waste goes but what it’s being used for and how it gives back to the community, there’s nothing else like this.
Mark, Lo Rapintenc: I really like supporting community initiatives. I like supporting local people. When you guys come here it’s just the nice thing of the day, as much as many nice things happen here, it’s quite nice and you know you’re supporting local people. We used Loop from the beginning. I really wanted to be part of it even if it’s just with half of my rubbish or whatever you can collect… so far so good. Being a Spanish shop, it means I have to import 99% of my products so that’s not really good for the environment. But as much as I can do from this side, I recycle everything that I can, and in fact I recycle and I go a bit further using local companies.
Mahesh, Lungi Baba's: We first heard about Loop from our gorgeous man Peter Macfadyen, it was hard to say no to such a lovely, positive local sustainable project. We Love working with the friendly team, always a pleasure to see our food waste go happily and to know that it is feeding the Frome nutrient cycle. It is inspiring to see an idea grow from scratch and as a business it is very important for us to add value to our products with a positive story and Loop is a perfect match. To be sustainable in today’s times are very challenging for an independent small business. However, initiatives like Loop spring up to make sustainable practices more possible and feasible towards a positive future.
Sweet Bee Organics: We heard about Loop through the Rye bakery and thought it was a great was to participate in our community. The service is super easy and has made us consider where our food waste is going. Sustainability has always been a priority for Sweet Bee, so when Loop came on the scene it felt really in alignment.
Sam, The River House: We’ve always wanted to recycle as much as possible, reuse as much as possible, so Loop was a bit of a no-brainer really. We were finding that the cost involved in disposing of compostable waste, including bagging it up in compostable big bags, sometimes having to double bag it, take it round to the bins, the cost of that then being taken away was actually quite expensive and dirty and laborious, so Loop is quite a convenient way of reducing our compostable waste. It’s really good that something local is being done with our food waste. In every way it’s a winner. We’ve been looking at every aspect of our business to make sure that we are as green as possible. So we buy locally, we recycle as much as possible, we use biodegradable waste products. We’ve always focused on it for a long time, to be green, environmentally friendly, and be on top of our game with that as well. It costs a little bit more to do it, but in the long run it’s better for everyone.
Millie, Nook: We heard about Loop through edventure, and decided to get involved as they helped solve a needed we had. We always considered things so we are as eco as possible. Our fruit and veg deliveries come in cardboard boxes that get sent back the next day for reuse. We recycle all of glass, cans, and plastic, and now thanks to Loop, food waste and coffee grounds.
Pete, Frama: Loop came at the right time to be honest. It helped the community taking waste and using it somewhere that’s not just dumping it away. I just like the fact that you’re giving back to the community, it’s the fact that it goes in a loop. I’m not getting rid of coffee waste into general waste - nine times out of ten, that’s where it was going. It’s actually getting given to the community and we know exactly where it’s going, it’s actually going back into the community soil. Coffee is great for the planet in one way, but actually it’s really bad for the planet in other ways and we need to make sure that every part of it is being used. Sustainability is very much part of the ethos of Frama and always has been.
Edventure Frome: "It was so great to play a part in boosting this project. We are passionate about creating a carbon neutral Frome and contributing to a more circular economy; this project ticked all the boxes. Inspiring work by all involved.” - Doug
Frome Medical Practice
Heart of BS13 works across the life course, mobilising children, young people and adults towards better health. In a community where health inequalities impact significantly on life chances, we take action to challenge food insecurity, improve the environment and address physical and mental health concerns.
The Climate Film collective
Compost Tom, Old Tree soil
Fair Frome: Fair Frome champions greater financial, educational, social and health equality for people living in Frome and the surrounding areas. We work alongside communities, families, individuals, volunteers, partner agencies and other stakeholders to create joined up, sustainable services, support innovation, raise awareness of the issues of poverty and increase participation across Frome.
“Sustainability is always about community”
— Frijof Capra
Our Partners
