Episode 32
Wrappily: Gift Wrap You Can Feel Good About
In this episode of In With the New, Avril speaks with Sara Smith, Founder of Wrappily, about her mission to green-up gifting with smarter, more sustainable gift wrap products.
In this episode, Avril interviews Sara Smith, founder of Wrappily, a company that produces environmentally friendly gift wrap. Sara discusses her inspiration for the company and why traditional wrapping paper is so difficult to recycle.
Wrapping paper is a big part of any gift giving event, from holiday celebrations, to birthdays, weddings and baby showers. It isn’t surprising that approximately 6.6 million pounds of wrapping paper is produced annually. Wrapping paper often has a glossy finish, which is made from plastic that is laminated and heat sealed. This makes it very difficult for recycling centers to separate these layers from the paper fibers that actually can be recycled. As a result, recycling centers typically don’t accept wrapping paper, and an estimated 2.3 million pounds goes to landfill each year.
Faced with the guilt of disposing of wrapping paper after each celebration (and a house overrun with gently used wrapping paper waiting for a second opportunity to shine) Sara decided to use her printing and publishing industry experience to create a more eco-friendly, recyclable wrapping paper that is a more sustainable choice for beautifully wrapped gifts for any occasion.
Listen in to learn more.
Episode Highlights:
3:04 Why traditional wrapping paper is not recyclable
7:26 The challenges of getting consumers to purchase sustainably made wrapping paper
9:43 Recyclability of newsprint
11:25 The challenges and benefits of producing locally and sustainably
19:36 The importance of consumers questioning product claims