STUDENTS from a Lichfield school are showing their entrepreneurial skills as part of a national competition.
The Year 12 group from King Edward VI School have created ForeverWrap as part of the Young Enterprise programme.
The product is a reusable fabric gift wrapping made from 100% cotton deadstock fabric, while the thread used in each one is made from recycled bottles.
The students met with Lichfield District Council’s leader Cllr Doug Pullen to run through their presentation ahead of the county final on 27th April.
A spokesperson for the group said:
“At the start of our Young Enterprise journey, we explored a variety of ideas, all centered around eco-friendly and sustainable products.
“After conducting surveys at our school Christmas fair, we identified a clear demand for a sustainable alternative to single-use wrapping paper.
“Our research showed that families and eco-conscious consumers are frustrated with wasteful wrapping products and are seeking an option that is both practical and environmentally friendly.
“The problem is significant. In the UK alone, over 227,000 miles of wrapping paper are discarded each year, most of which cannot be recycled due to glitter, foil, tape and plastic coatings.
“Traditional wrapping paper is not only single-use but also time-consuming and often torn and thrown away within seconds.
“The environmental impact of using ForeverWrap is considerable. Producing just one kilogram of wrapping paper releases approximately 3.5 kilograms of CO₂, which is roughly equivalent to driving a car 14 miles.
“By reusing materials and creating a product built to last, ForeverWrap helps reduce this impact.”
ForeverWrap is available in three sizes and costs between £5 and £10, with ribbons sewn into the corners of each one to eliminate the need for tape.
“To fund our initial production, we raised £3,440 through advertising in our school Christmas Fair brochure.
“Our current pricing model, which reflects small-scale ethical production, is designed to balance quality with accessibility.
“As production scales up, we anticipate reducing costs while maintaining the high quality of our product. “
The students have sold their product at a trade fair and local venues, such as a local Central Co-op store and at The Hub at St Mary’s.
For more details or to buy ForeverWrap, visit www.foreverwrap.com.
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