A Chat With Bee Wrappy

When Christine and Sam wanted to reduce their use of plastic in the home, they started tinkering around with making their own plastic free wraps and Bee Wrappy was born.

When did you start Bee Wrappy? What was your motivation?

We started Bee Wrappy in late 2016. After reflecting on our use of traditional single-use plastic, as well as our weekly food wastage, we decided to look for a way to improve on how we were doing things at home. Beeswax food wraps were a simple way for our family to do just one thing better for the environment. They replaced our reliance on traditional single-use plastic wrap and kept our food fresher for longer. Sam crafted the first ever Bee Wrappy in our kitchen using a tiny Pyrex bowl and some leftover beeswax we had after making our own baby lotion. We then gifted our Bee Wrappy beeswax food wraps to our family and friends and they encouraged us to begin selling at a local market and online. We’ve always wanted to start a business together, and we finally felt like Bee Wrappy was the one for us.

How are they made?

The way we craft our wraps has changed a lot in the last 12 months as we’re always looking for ways to improve our product. In saying that, we always begin with our Bee Wrappy blend of beautiful, natural and organic ingredients which includes Australian organic beeswax, virgin coconut oil, cold pressed jojoba oil and dammar resin. We take beautifully printed cotton and batch dip it in our wax blend, cut to size and fold. They are crafted to a high standard of quality and are proudly certified as Australian Made.

Can beeswax wraps extend the life of food?

Bee Wrappy beeswax food wraps are breathable and act just like a fruit or vegetable’s natural peel or skin. Avocados are widely loved but can be expensive and often turn brown after being cut and stored to use the next day in unbreathable plastic wrap. They are very happy nestled in a Bee Wrappy. Many customers have told us that their half avos stay beautifully fresh in our wraps for a couple of days… It’s like goodness wrapped in goodness!

Are wax wraps similar to the oil cloths Australian drovers historically stored and preserved their food in?

Yes. Across history, there have been many different sustainable wraps and cloths used for food storage and preservation. Bee Wrappy draws inspiration from these as they are a more simple and natural way of doing things.

What makes Bee Wrappy unique ?

It would be really easy for us to claim we are the most unique company in this rapidly growing eco category. However, the truth is that there are lots of wonderful sellers making beeswax food wraps, using almost identical ingredients. We set ourselves apart from the crowd by offering exceptional customer service, giving to Australia’s largest food rescue organisation, Oz Harvest and other local community groups and schools. We want to reflect the everyday Australian family’s drive to do “just one thing better” for the environment.

Plastic wrap alternatives have become super popular. Is it a fad, or are people finally changing their habits ?

People are definitely changing their habits! The War on Waste TV series has certainly been a catalyst for change for lots of people. Bee Wrappy exists to make “eco-friendly” mainstream. If there are no alternatives to traditional single-use plastic wrap then people can’t make a better choice. Our wraps are simple to use, effective and make “changing habits” easy for everyone. We hope Bee Wrappy is a first step in people’s long-term waste reduction journey.

What makes you most proud of Bee Wrappy ?

We’re most proud of being embraced by everyday people who want to make a simple change. It’s really humbling that people choose us to be a part of their waste reduction journey. That’s the best bit; Bee Wrappy’s are being loved, used and embraced in kitchens and lunch boxes all across Australia, all after we decided to do just one thing better.