Behind The Brand

Gift wrap has a dirty secret. Most of it is plastic-coated, which means it cannot be recycled and is destined for landfill. It was this realisation, brought home by a viral video, that led to the founding of Eco-Wrap in 2018.

The company began after its founder ordered gift wrap and found the sheet that arrived was plastic-coated, fit only for the bin, and too small for the present she had bought it for. Further research confirmed the scale of the problem: on average, the UK throws away more than a million rolls of gift wrap every day. Eco-Wrap set out to offer a genuinely environmentally friendly alternative, with British-made gift presentation products that combine recycled and recyclable paper, biodegradable materials and inviting design.

What the brand stands for

Everything in the range is recyclable, biodegradable and compostable, and all paper comes from recycled sources. Raw materials travel no further than Europe, which keeps the carbon footprint small and supports responsible sourcing. Nothing in the offering needs to end up in landfill.

The team’s stated aim is to cut the use of non-sustainable presentation by 20%. Customers respond to the fact that the range is created in the UK rather than imported from China, and to the company’s zero-plastic and ethics promises. Many share its concern about keeping beaches clean and stopping microplastics from endangering wildlife.

From small beginnings

Eco-Wrap started life in a temporary cabin in a garden. Looking back, the team’s advice to its younger self is to have a strategy for juggling family and work demands, and not to be afraid of challenging the fast-fashion end of retail pouring in from the Far East — customers, it notes, are turning away from that.

The team brings together experience spanning international wholesale and Oxford Street retail, and has weathered war and personal tragedy along the way.

What is new

The range has expanded considerably since the brand last exhibited in 2019, and now includes a set of printed designs alongside previews of Christmas specials still going to print. There is also a collection of sustainably and kindly sourced accessories intended to complete the gift-giving experience. Asked for a personal favourite, the team declines to pick one — there is a different favourite for every occasion.

Eco-Wrap can be found at stand DP4-100, where visitors can see the bestselling autumn/winter collections and a sneak preview of the Christmas designs.