Wrap stars start an eco-revolution

Julia Kay, one of the innovative co-CEOs and co-founders behind Great Wrap, speaks to Sarah Halfpenny about their eco-conscious packaging company that started life on the Mornington Peninsula.

Since our last story in 2021, how has Great Wrap evolved as a company? So much has changed since we last spoke. We’ve had an exciting couple of years. We moved to a large facility in Tullamarine, we became a B Corp certified business, we launched our compostable hand pallet wrap, our compostable machine pallet wrap and our Great Wrap refillable dispenser for homes, and we’re working on PHA in the lab so we can offer a material that is marine degradable as well as compostable.

What motivated the decision to focus on compostable materials for your products?

It was the sheer impact plastic waste was having on the land, and the state of our recycling and waste systems in Australia. Sadly, the infrastructure isn’t where it needs to be and a lot of waste that goes to recycling ends up in landfill. With our material, when it’s placed in a compost environment it will completely disappear, leaving nothing behind. This isn’t always guaranteed with recyclable materials in the recycling system, and the same with single-use soft plastics. To ensure the effectiveness and environmental impact of our wrap, we ensure all materials within our wrap are compostable and we apply for global compost certifications so that our end business users know it can be disposed of through a compost facility.

Tell us about the process of creating your products.

We manage all elements of manufacturing and distribution at our facility in Tullamarine. Our materials are compounded and extruded through our machines on site and turned into compostable stretch wrap. We currently manufacture wrap for homes and businesses with different lengths, thicknesses and widths to cater to different industries. Locally manufacturing our products is an important part of our mission, as it creates local jobs and boosts Victorian manufacturing.  How do you engage with the community?

Community involvement is integral to our mission. We have created a brand that is able to cater to homes and businesses in Australia. This is important because we want everyone to be part of the Great Wrap evolution. People love supporting Australian-made and owned businesses, so it didn’t make sense for us to only focus on one industry or area.

What have been some of the most rewarding moments and biggest challenges?

Some of the most rewarding moments are our internal wins, such as seeing our manufacturing team create a material for the first time. A lot of people weren’t sure we’d be able to make our vision a reality, but we’ve put a lot of time and effort into making it happen. One of our biggest challenges is keeping up with the global demand. We’ve been very lucky to have a lot of global media attention, which always results in a lot of inquiries from far and wide. People want to see us everywhere, which is so amazing, but it all takes time and we’re working on it.

What are your aspirations for the future of Great Wrap?

We want to see Great Wrap used globally in homes and businesses so we can make a large impact and see less traditional pallet wrap and cling wrap in our landfills. We believe composting and compostable products are the future, and the more awareness we can get is a positive for the industry and the future of composting infrastructure. Further to this, in the future we plan to make our wrap with PHA in our own biorefinery. PHA is compostable and marine degradable, so if it was ever to accidentally end up in the ocean it will break down there too.

How can readers support and engage with Great Wrap?

Readers can support us by following us on our social media channels @great_ wrap, by signing up to our e-newsletters or purchasing our home products on our website www.greatwrap.com.au