From humble beginnings to Britain's sustainable dining revolution
Charlotte Harrison, while studying environmental science at Cambridge, noticed the overwhelming amount of plastic waste generated by university dining halls. This observation sparked the idea for a sustainable alternative to traditional disposable tableware.
Working from her student accommodation, Charlotte began experimenting with bamboo fibres and agricultural waste to create the first Stireparag prototypes. Early tests with fellow students showed promising results for both durability and aesthetic appeal.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Stireparag secured its first commercial partnership with a local café in Cambridge. The success of this pilot programme led to word-of-mouth growth and our first major breakthrough.
Stireparag officially launched with our first product line of bamboo plates and cutlery. The company moved to its first proper office space in London, and we welcomed our first employees, including David Mitchell as Head of Product Development.
Stireparag was recognised as 'Sustainable Startup of the Year' by the British Environmental Business Awards. We also achieved our first major retail partnerships and expanded our product range to include compostable food containers.
With growing demand across Britain, we expanded our operations nationwide. Sophie Turner joined as Sustainability Director, helping us achieve carbon-neutral delivery across all our services and establish partnerships with sustainable material suppliers across Europe.
Today, Stireparag serves over 15,000 customers across Britain, from individual households to major restaurant chains. We've prevented over 2.5 million plastic items from entering landfills and continue to innovate with new sustainable materials and designs.
Winner of the Sustainable Startup of the Year 2022
Serving households and businesses across Britain
Achieved complete carbon neutrality in 2023
On track to achieve zero waste operations by 2025
As we look to the future, Stireparag remains committed to pushing the boundaries of sustainable design and manufacturing. Our goals for the coming years include: