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A Creative Partnership with a Cornish Twist
Royal Mail and The Postal Museum have announced an innovative partnership with Flotsam Flo, a Cornwall-based small business, to upcycle used trolley sleeves into unique handmade bags. The project forms part of Royal Mail’s ongoing efforts to reduce waste and promote sustainability while supporting a local business.
Kate Doran, who founded Flotsam Flo in 2021 after a life-changing brain haemorrhage, has gained recognition for transforming waste materials that are difficult to recycle into creative accessories. With support from sustainable waste management leader Biffa, Flotsam Flo has continued to thrive by repurposing waste and turning it into items that are both practical and beautiful.
Exclusively at The Postal Museum
The repurposed trolley sleeves-turned-bags are available for presale online through The Postal Museum in London, just in time for Christmas shopping. From late November, customers can find these items in-store, subject to availability. The museum, renowned for its comprehensive exhibitions covering 500 years of communications history and home to the immersive Mail Rail ride, has embraced this partnership as part of its commitment to achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2040.
Fiona Campbell of Biffa praised Kate’s dedication, noting: “Kate’s work is incredibly impressive, and it’s brilliant to see her partnering with Royal Mail to help turn previously unrecyclable materials into a fantastic new product.”
Photo: The Flotsam Flo Collection
Circular Economy in Action
Royal Mail’s switch to upcycling its old trolley sleeves follows the introduction of more durable, recyclable alternatives designed by in-house engineers. The new sleeves, made from corrugated plastic containing 30% recycled material, boast a lifespan of up to 3,000 uses over four years. These measures align with Royal Mail’s Steps to Zero strategy, which aims for Net-Zero by 2040 and includes a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. The new sleeves contributed to saving 2,000 tonnes of waste last year—a significant 10% decrease from 2020/21 figures.
Matt Gower, Royal Mail’s Head of ESG, said: “Royal Mail is always looking for ways to reduce our waste, and the more creative the better. We love the bags that Flotsam Flo has created – our trolley sleeves have never looked so good.”
A Boost for Small Business and Sustainability
Flotsam Flo’s collaboration with Royal Mail showcases how waste can be transformed into something functional and fashionable. Kate highlighted her excitement, saying: “It’s been an incredible experience collaborating with Royal Mail to give its trolley sleeves a second life as beautiful handmade bags. At Flotsam Flo, we are all about reducing waste and finding beauty in sustainability. I still can’t quite believe I am working with Royal Mail and the fact my items are on sale through The Postal Museum in London – but if I do say so myself, they make the perfect Christmas gift.”
With the support of Biffa, which provides Kate with office space, mentoring, and raw materials, Flotsam Flo continues to show the potential of micro-circular solutions in waste management. Biffa’s commitment to promoting a circular economy and sustainable practices aligns with its own achievements, having cut carbon emissions by 70% since 2002 and targeting net zero by 2050.
