The Scrappy Elephant
Sarah Sweet, Director of Operations
As Charlottesville's creative reuse center, a business who's mission is to reduce waste and encourage creativity, we are so excited to be part of a team of local businesses who make sustainability a priority. In order to make real change and find real solutions to the climate crisis, we have to work together.
About Scrappy Elephant
Our mission is to provide all makers (regardless of age, race, gender, or creed) unique and reclaimed creative materials and creative experiences at affordable prices.
We promote sustainable living for the Central Virginia community by participating in the circular economy. WE AIM to provide simple ways to extend the life of art and craft materials while also proving that being a part of the circular economy makes sense for people and for the planet. Instead of buying, using, and throwing things away, we are an alternative to the traditional cycle of consumption.
The Scrappy Elephant serves the local community by sparking creativity and bringing joy to our customers, reducing waste to the landfill, and through our non-profit rewards program.
What We’ve Done
Since 2020, we have diverted over 300,000 lbs of art and craft materials from the landfill and have gotten those supplies to the local community at super affordable prices. We've given away thousands of dollars worth of free supplies to several local nonprofits through our nonprofit rewards program. We've partnered with our neighbors who also support sustainability to promote more sustainable ways of shopping.
What We’re Working on
We are continuing to pursue ways to get a bus stop added to McIntire Plaza. We are going to work on recreating and expanding our Earth Day celebration in order to remind everyone of the small things that can be done in order to care for our planet. We are looking into ways to purchase a fabric shredding machine and find a community partner to shred scrap fabric in order to turn it into usable material.