wisdom | waste + plastics



Large seabirds known as albatross have the dubious distinction of serving as a canary in the coal mine when it comes to ocean plastics. Despite the IUCN’s listing of nearly all species of albatross as threatened, one particular bird has persisted against the odds – she is known as "Wisdom" the Laysan albatross. At 74, Wisdom is the oldest wild bird on record, and a world renowned symbol of hope for all species that depend upon the health of the ocean -
(every species on earth - including humans).

We dedicate the name of our business, and the work we do in honor of magnificent creatures like the albatross, caught up in the fallout of our disposability culture.

 
 

WHY WE DO THIS

Waste reduction + building an intentional process of bringing products of integrity to market, in a manner by which we can feel good about what we do.
Our belief is that the manufacturing of products and packaging that have no other final destination but landfill, oceans, earth pollution, or to be wish-cycled “away” through deceptive recycling schemes, should be against the law.
No person or company should have the right to destroy or contaminate earth’s shared natural resources for the sake of profit.
We only want to take part in product and packaging designs as though there are 8 billion+ of us who share and depend on the planet’s resources, with a collective interest and responsibility in stewarding and preserving those resources for generations to come.
Waste is a design flaw. An ignorant, far-reaching, dangerous design flaw.
We want to participate in a sustainable system and community.

 
 
 
 

WHAT IT HAS TO DO WITH PLASTIC

When we started in 2017, our mission was to get disposable plastics out of schools/classrooms.
That remains the long term goal (and what I personally believe to be our most critical work) but after a major shift caused by the pandemic (hard to have a zero-waste school supply company when every school in the country closes for 2 years), and after a flawed stint in the e-commerce space, we are rebuilding from the ground up.
We are starting with our Zero-Waste Weekly Planners - from there we will work directly with schools to seasonally relaunch categories like our notebooks, 3-ring binders, folders, and general classroom supplies in order to get back to our mission of “consciously uncoupling” students from disposable plastics.