Greater London Enterprise Awards 2020

35 | Greater London Awards 2020 Best Biodegradable Wet Wipe: Twipes Plastic straws, carrier bags, and wet wipes, what do they all have in common? They are all damaging to the planet. Yet, whilst the problem with plastic straws has been addressed – with many places now only offering paper, and carrier bags are now taxed, it seems not many have considered the adverse effect single use wet wipes can have on the planet. Going against that trend however is Twipes. We spoke with Twipes’ Head of Product Elizabeth Kotoulis to talk about the inspiration behind the brand, their mission and what the future holds. Wet wipes are one of the most damaging single-use plastics to our planet. They are responsible for sewer blockages, which is financially harmful for councils because of the cost of clearing these blockages. This is before we even consider the cost of cleaning riverbeds and oceans where wet wipes can often be found floating. Whilst wet wipes can biodegrade, this can on average take over 100 years, during this process microplastics can still be released into the river, ocean, landfill etc. that the wet wipe has landed in. This is where Twipes comes in, as Elizabeth tells us “Twipes are a plastic-free wet wipe that breaks down in water in just three hours -and seven days in landfill. Twipes mission is to stop any more wet wipe pollution without sacrificing hygiene: consumers can save the planet by changing their product, NOT their habits.” The year 2020 has made everyone more aware and conscious of how important it is to maintain a high level of personal hygiene, for Twipes this has meant they have seen something positive despite all the bad, Elizabeth advised us “There has been a huge increase in sales of wet wipes for hygienic reasons due to the impact to COVID-19. The rise of single-use plastic PPE in general is a ticking time bomb. Now more than ever it is important for consumers to be aware of more ethical brands that are available. With more and more people working remotely, subscription services with home delivery are growing more popular, instead of Sep20187 buying directly from shops.” Something that stands out here is the fact Twipes are in no way boastful of their success, but they celebrate the positive effect what ethical companies such as themselves are doing in the face of the adversity the Covid-19 pandemic has bought. What is it that separates Twipes from its competitors? Friendship, this is a company that is not made up of thousands of people looking to earn a wage, it is a small group of people looking to make a big difference and they do this by regularly looking at performance, not just in general but how their performance compares to their goals. As Elizabeth told us “Twipes was founded by Ellenor McIntosh and Alborz Bozorgi. The pair have known each other for ten years, going from friends to business partners. As a team of five, it’s important that we all have similar work ethics and tenacity when it comes to welcoming new talent. With regular performance reviews, the progress of each employee is always noted alongside their personal career aspirations. The great thing about working in a start-up is the flexibility of the roles and responsibilities.” Like many companies Twipes has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, but they have not let this tear them down, Elizabeth let us know the exciting news that they are reopening order in the new year, just in time for everyone’s New Year’s resolutions to be more environmentally friendly! Elizabeth also let us in on the secret ingredient for Twipes success, saying “Ellenor McIntosh, our co- founder and inventor is a real inspiration.” Contact: Elizabeth Kotoulis Company: Twipes Web Address: www.twipes.co.uk Phone: 02380 98 44 28 “Being an ethical consumer is no longer a trend but a necessity, in order to see our planet thrive. Twipes have a simple subscription service where you can order as much or as little as you need straight to your door. With the best price and the best product, we can do our bit for ourselves and future generations.”