Nine businesses have so far signed up to the UNESCO Biosphere’s Plastic Free Business scheme, which launched in July.

It allows businesses who are either plastic free, or are working to reduce single-use plastics, to display stickers and certificates in their windows so that eco-conscious customers can make informed choices.

Launched by the government, it is being run by beach-cleaning charity Beach Buddies.

Founder Bill Dale said the charity was working with businesses to find out what part of the scheme they want to support, and that a list of businesses will be released in the future.

He described the response as ’very positive so far’, and said there had been a ’large number of enquiries’ from businesses wanting to know about how the project works.

Businesses can register as either: ’Supporting’ by removing single use plastic plates, bags, stirrers, straws, cutlery, polystyrene food and beverage containers, plastic stemmed cotton buds, balloon sticks and oxo-degradable plastics, or ’Plastic-free’ by removing all unnecessary single-use plastics from their day-to-day activities. To join, they can email [email protected]