It is sometimes said that Vermont is so far behind, it’s ahead. And the same might be true of Sylvacurl. While much of the world turned to cheap, petroleum-based packaging materials like styrofoam peanuts in the nineties, Sylvacurl founders Jim and Mary-Ellen Lovinsky turned to nature.
Driven in equal parts by concern for the environment and good old fashioned New England resourcefulness, Jim and Mary-Ellen began making wood curl shavings from Aspen (also called “Popple”) trees that were leftover from timber harvests.
The simple practicality of interlocking wood curls
Intuitively drawn to the idea of waste-free manufacturing before it was a term in corporate plans, they purchased Aspen from local loggers and shaved it into soft, buoyant curls. Nothing added and nothing leftover.
The simple, natural result proved perfectly practical for shipping delicate goods, such as their neighbor’s maple syrup. The interlocking nature of the curls securely protects even the most fragile products, while woods' naturally absorbent properties keeps moisture away from delicate foods and adds insulation value.
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An honest product rooted in a family business
Not much has changed at Sylvacurl in three decades, but the increased demand for sustainable packaging around the globe has skyrocketed. With an estimated one-third of landfill garbage in the U.S. attributed to packaging, customers today are asking businesses to make an honest statement about their commitment to climate change.
Sylvacurl helps companies demonstrate those values. No styrofoam peanuts or bio-plastics derived from industrial agriculture. No ambiguous “recycled” craft papers (aka “rainforest paper”) that can come from anywhere in the world. Just wood from the abundant and carefully stewarded Northern Forest that can be simply returned to the earth after use.
Family-owned and operated, with the next generation now helping to scale the company, Sylvacurl remains committed to its core values: a healthy and sustainable Northern Forest, vibrant communities, and reducing plastic waste in our environment. Sylvacurl is good for the planet and good for the rural economies that depend on a healthy forest economy.