Investors deliver on $1.5m crowdfunding for Hero Packaging

In a clear message that eco-packaging pioneer Hero Packaging is on the right track, the Sydney-based business has reached its crowdfunding target after raising $1.5 million from its Equitise campaign.  

Specialising in 100 per cent home compostable packaging, co-founder Anaita Sarkar spoke with Business News Australia in April about how biodegradable products like hers are helping businesses cut their carbon footprints.

After meeting its funding goal early, the business is now well placed to scale up its operations in North America, viewed as a more significant and less mature market than Australia.  

“We have a strong business community already behind us, and now our customers have joined our mission to reduce single-use plastic packaging globally through our crowdfunding campaign,” said Sarkar, the author of the digital marketing book 'Sell Anything Online'.

“In just three short years, we have helped to eliminate plastic from the shipping process with our unique, home-compostable shipping mailers to over 40,000 customers worldwide, and this investment will help scale the business at a rapid pace.

“We’ve been blown away by the response so far, and we are excited to strengthen the business by growing our passionate North American team, giving us the opportunity to bring the best eco-friendly packaging solutions to new customers and have an even greater impact.”

Sarkar and fellow co-founder Vikram Davé started their journey to eradicate as much plastic from the shipping process as possible in 2018.

The couple turned to zero-waste packaging after learning that 90 per cent of plastics and food scraps end up in landfills, which then turn into methane.

Motivated by proving they can run a business to their three little girls, the duo are proud to give back and do good for the planet.

Working with all types of businesses, including Beginning Boutique, Cue Clothing, Lush Cosmetics, Birdsnest, HoMie, and Moana Bikini, Hero Packaging has saved more than 6 million plastic mailers from entering the planet to date and is one of Australia’s leading retailers of home-compostable shipping mailers.

It has also introduced a range of business accessories such as printers, labels, tape and hex wrap, which are all more sustainable than other products in the market.

The US e-commerce market is worth an estimated $800 billion, which provides enormous growth opportunities for eco-friendly packaging solutions. The business entered the market in 2021 and has already picked up more than 600 customers.