Australian start-up, Great Wrap, today launches its certified compostable and biodegradable stretch wrap made from plant-based products, a world-first solution to one of the biggest industrial waste challenges.
With plastic stretch wrap encasing almost every pallet sent from business to business around the world – it is estimated the number of pallets sent each year is now in the billions – Great Wrap’s goal is to remove one million tonnes of plastic from the environment within a year.
Great Wrap founder and CEO, Jordy Kay, was working in the wine industry for over a decade when he noticed how much stretch wrap was being used without a plastic-free solution. His experience found that a single winery could use up to 3.5mn metres of plastic wrap every year.
“There’s a culture of concern around single-use plastics that is growing every day with the rise of reusable coffee cups, lunch boxes and even diapers. However, I think consumers would be shocked at how much plastic wrap businesses are using and is ending up in landfill,” said Kay.
Following a successful test to market with a trial biodegradable stretch wrap in late 2019, Kay has self-funded the research and creation of the latest iteration of Great Wrap, a 100 per cent compostable alternative that leaves no trace of residue or microplastics and breaks down in 180 days once it enters a compost pile.
Following the initial test to market, winery, Bobar Wine, trialled Great Wrap. “We hate the amount of waste that can be caused by making wine, so to find an environmentally friendly solution that works just as well as the original made the switch an easy decision,” said the company’s winemaker Tom Belford.
“With each box of Great Wrap a business will save 1.2 kilometres of plastic entering landfill, making the change to Great Wrap is a no brainer for any business looking to make a positive impact,” said Kay.
Great Wrap has been awarded an industrial composability certification from internationally recognised German certified DIN CERTCO. Great Wrap is committed to making an environmental difference and will be partnering with Plastic Bank to remove plastic from coastal ecosystems. For every box of Great Wrap sold, 761 plastic bottles, or 15kg, will be removed.