Our Sustainability Mission
At SmithTaylor, we strive to create a positive influence in everything we do. We think all companies should push boundaries and we're dedicated to finding ways to support our customers, the environment and communities. Your support helps us make a real impact. Thank you.
Planting Trees
For every order we receive, we to plant a tree through our Partners, Trees for the Future. However, it is so much more than that as we create sustainable ‘Forest Gardens’ that rejuvenate ecosystems in as little as five years, moving away from damaging monoculture. These Forest Gardens provide food and income for families, empower women and communities, and even save lives.
Every year, over 30 million trees are felled intentionally and by natural causes. Trees clean our soil and our air, provide income and nutrition and protect us from the elements. Trees For The Future is a non-profit organisation that has planted 300 million trees. At Wraptious and SmithTaylor, we have so far planted over 120,000 trees! Thank you so much for your support.
Sustainable and Recyclable Products
Our products stand out as eco-friendly products by prioritising sustainability without sacrificing quality. Unlike widely used materials that hinder recycling efforts, we opt for a greener approach. Our coasters and placemats are crafted from natural wood - both biodegradable and recyclable - complemented by a thin laminate layer for durability that can be removed. This design not only ensures aesthetic appeal but also promotes environmental sustainability.
Proudly, all cork and wood in our products are sourced from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approved suppliers, showcasing our dedication to responsible sourcing. By choosing our products, customers support a reduced environmental impact, as the majority of our products can be recycled or biodegraded, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional options.
Packaging, Plastics and Zero Waste
We champion a zero-waste policy by recycling all our waste, significantly reducing our environmental impact and fostering a cycle of sustainability. Across our business we repurpose boxes and packaging from suppliers, and have eliminated the need for plastic protection by shifting to recycled paper alternatives and designing smarter packaging solutions, such as our all-cardboard boxes for our clocks. This, and other measures, have cut our plastic usage by nearly a tonne annually.
Our packaging materials consist of 60-90% recycled content, complemented by FSC-approved sources, ensuring they are recyclable. By customising our box sizes, we further decrease shipping volume and enhancing fuel efficiency. Through these measures, as well as challenging our suppliers to adopt mindful packaging practices also, we set a standard for sustainability in the industry.
Why we don’t use Melamine
As a durable, heat-resistant plastic, melamine is often used in tableware. While its resilience and hard-wearing nature are beneficial in some respects, melamine is also notably brittle. This brittleness, combined with melamine's nature as a thermosetting plastic that cannot be remelted and reshaped once set, poses significant challenges for recycling. Their composite nature often means they are made from a mix of materials that are difficult to separate and recycle. Combined with a lack of widespread recycling infrastructure for specialised plastics like melamine, this complicates their end-of-life disposal.
In contrast, as shared above, our coasters are designed with environmental sustainability in mind. We combine natural cork and board, both of which are biodegradable and recyclable materials, with a thin layer of laminate for durability and printability. This design choice ensures that, although the laminate is not recyclable, the bulk of our coaster can be recycled or biodegraded once the laminate layer is removed. This makes our coasters a more eco-friendly option, as they minimise waste and support recycling efforts. By choosing our coasters, consumers can enjoy a durable, aesthetically pleasing product while also contributing to a reduction in environmental impact compared to traditional melamine products.