Honeywrap are a small Auckland-based company providing New Zealand with funky and fun alternatives to plastic food wrapping. Turns out beeswax and cotton makes the perfect combination to keep food wrapped up and hygienic, whilst not putting any more plastic into the environment! Sounds good to us! We had a yarn with founder Tara Strahan about doing business plastic free.
Can you tell me the story of why you started 'Honeywrap'?
We noticed when our kids started school and kindy the amount of waste in lunchboxes and thought there must be a better way. A school project introduced the idea of a beeswax wrap. It was the answer to what we had been looking for and loved that it was a product that could make a difference.
What kind of message are you trying to tell New Zealand with Honeywrap?
There are lots of easy ways to reduce single use plastic – Honeywrap being one of them.
What message did you write on your 'message in a bottle' and why?
I wrote – it is a step in the right direction and for now the best solution to stop plastic ending up in our oceans. I wrote this because ideally we would not have plastic bottles [at all], but if people continue to use them then this will definitely encourage more recycling.
Why do you think it's important that New Zealand cuts down on plastics?
Every bit of plastic ever made still exists. The plastic that does break down ends up in the ocean in tiny micro particles. New Zealand is known for its clean green reputation but we are so far behind many countries. At least 30 countries have now banned plastic bags and the New Zealand government is not even considering it!
Do you think New Zealand has a waste problem?
Yes! On a recent school trip to the Refuse centre [we were] horrified to learn the sheer quantity of waste we produce. Each week Auckland alone, produces the equivalent of a rugby field in waste. We have our rubbish collected each week for us so are often oblivious to how much we create. It is out of sight, out of mind.
What's a simple thing people can do here in Aotearoa NZ to cut down on their plastic consumption?
Start with one thing- if you are still using plastic bags, change to a reusable option. Often the reason people give is that they need the plastic bags to line their bins or to pick up dog poo. If you don't put food in your bin then usually there is no need for a liner. A compost or bokashi is an easy system and will save a huge amount of waste produced. There are compostable options for dog poo or you can use paper or some of the plastic around the other products people buy, eg, bread bags, cereal.
What do you love most about beaches and oceans?
Why do you feel it's important to protect our oceans and beaches from litter?
To protect the beauty and the marine life. The ocean is the life source of the planet.
Your wraps are also beautiful to look at – what inspires you when you're designing them?
Nature and appealing to people that may not be so environmentally minded but love a beautiful product.
Do you see much litter on your closest beach or in your community? How does this make you feel?
At first glance they seem quite clean but then look closer and there are lots of tiny bits of broken up plastic. I was at Tiritirimatangi recently and picked up two handfuls of rubbish on one tiny beach. A lot of our ocean currents remove the debris from our waters and deposit elsewhere which can add to the false sense there is not a problem here.
There seems to be a lot more people aware about the impact of plastic on the environment. Yay! [Let's] hope NZ gets behind the campaign!