The annual Challenge aims to support innovative start-ups solving environmental dilemmas, with this year’s Challenge focusing on regenerative economy and sustainable food systems. A record number of start-ups joined this year’s competition, with the broadest range of entrants to date.

Five finalists were then short-listed, who pitched to a panel of judges including WWF-Australia Chief Regeneration Officer Nicole Forrester; Climate Salad Co-founder Mick Liubinskas and Jawun Chief Executive Shane Webster as well as KPMG’s National Nature Lead Carolin Leeshaa and Josh Geelan, KPMG Enterprise Lead Partner for ESG & Sustainability.

Andrew Yates, CEO, KPMG Australia stated, “Levur was the ultimate choice of our judging panel because of their highly innovative application of science and the scale of the challenge they are tackling – replacing unsustainable plant and animal oils with sustainable alternatives. The widespread adoption of sustainable oils could have a tremendous global impact, maintaining biodiversity and reducing the devasting effects of deforestation.”

“The goal of the KPMG Nature Positive Challenge is to shape a better future by supporting entrepreneurship that is focused on helping people and planet. We are incredibly proud to be helping fast-track the growth of these amazing businesses,” he added.

As the top winner, Levur takes home the major $100,000 Nature Positive Prize. Co-Founders Tom Collier (CEO), and Joanne Barber (COO) were thrilled to receive the honour.

Collier commented, “Winning the KPMG Nature Positive Challenge feels like a pivotal moment for Levur. It’s a validation of the mission our team has worked so hard to make a reality and a powerful reminder of why we started this journey: to protect our planet and create solutions that leave a lasting impact.”

He added, “We’re already seeing the strategic benefits of KPMG’s advisory support and the doors this will open for a relatively young business. Thanks to this prize, we’ll be able to scale faster and reach more markets, helping to commercialise our sustainable alternative to palm oil. Creating long-term impact takes a village, and we’re deeply inspired by the work of our fellow finalists. We’re proud to be part of a community dedicated to driving meaningful change.”

The four other KPMG Nature Positive finalists are:

• Coral Maker (WA) – a coral reef restoration company focused on technology to scale the deployment of corals.
• Lord of the Trees (NSW) – pioneering sustainable pest management through innovative drone technology.
• Native Botanical Brewery (NSW) – a First Nations family business producing native beverages while actively restoring local ecosystems by propagating native food species.
• Rainstick (QLD) – using electricity to mimic the natural effects of lightning to grow crops bigger, faster and more sustainably.

Native Botanical Brewery was also selected as the winner in the First Nations category, a new award category that aims to recognise the growth potential of Indigenous businesses and reflect how these communities, through traditional knowledge and practices, continue to play a leading role in promoting a harmonious relationship with the environment.

Meanwhile, nature tech start-up Coral Maker won the KPMG People’s Choice Award, chsoen by KPMG staff across Australia and the South Pacific.

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Why they stand out online: Establishing itself as a leader in a niche category has garnered Daisy Graze a loyal customer base and a number of sustainable-product awards.

The idea behind Daisy Graze came three years ago, in 2020, when overseas travel was taken off the table. Janelle Slater and her family decided to invest in a caravan they could use for local holidays instead. “Upon fitting out our van with all the necessities, I could not find a dinnerware option that was not only eco-friendly but also lightweight, shatterproof, microwave-safe and aesthetically desirable,” Janelle bemoans.

Having identified this gap in the market, Janelle embarked on months of investigating and sourcing suppliers to create her own brand. She officially launched Daisy Graze online in February 2022 from her home in Brisbane. 

The initial product offering focused on sustainable and functional dinnerware, which includes plates, bowls and cups for adults, alongside a colourful kid’s range of the same products. Janelle has since added mugs and salad bowls with leak-proof lids. “Everything has been designed to complement the home or caravan while still performing all the tasks expected of it, without harming the Earth,” Janelle avers. “All our products to date (apart from the silicone lids on our salad bowls) are made of polylactic acid (PLA), a material consisting of starchy vegetables and plants. These crops are renowned for their rapid growth and replenishing properties, making the production sustainable. And scientific studies have revealed that our manufacturing processes result in a 60 per cent reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions when compared with producing traditional plastics.”

The products contain no melamine, BPA, lead, cadmium or phthalates, guaranteeing what Janelle describes as a “safe and wholesome dining experience”. “At the end of their lifespan, they will also biodegrade in landfill, leaving no plastic traces polluting our Earth,” she enthuses.

Alongside the environmental focus, Daisy Graze’s products are also designed with practicality in mind. “The lightweight benefits of our dinnerware also include reduced weight on the body’s joints and help to keep a caravan within its weight limits,” Janelle explains. “The drop-proof quality makes them perfect for travel, picnics or entertaining friends and family. And their dishwasher and microwave durability make preparing meals and cleaning up a breeze!”

Janelle opted to take the eCommerce route to market due to the ease and lower costs of setting up. “It means we can also manage the business from anywhere in the world – or wherever our caravan is – and allows us to reach customers far and wide,” Janelle says. Having come into the eCommerce world as a novice and having to confront what she describes as her naïvety at how multifaceted it is, Janelle sees each day as an opportunity to learn and grow. This willingness to take all the lessons on board, and her enthusiasm for the project and commitment to sustainability, have resulted in Janelle garnering a loyal customer base and a number of sustainable-product awards.

“Alongside the environmental focus, Daisy Graze’s products are also designed with practicality in mind.”

While Daisy Graze is predominantly an online business, its products are stocked by many independent stores around the country. And looking to the future, Janelle is focusing on adding more stockists, along with creating further brand awareness and expanding her product range. “We plan to stay on the kitchen items and travel essentials path, as it is proving to be a popular niche,” she explains. “Growing our community of stockists within Australia and internationally is also in our plans.”

This article first appeared in issue 42 of the Inside Small Business quarterly magazine

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Zo Blatch-Klapas struggled with eco nappies that leaked fell, despite trying every eco disposable nappy brand available. So, Zo did her research and found a manufacturer in New Zealand, and a brand and marketing team in Sydney, who helped bring her vision to life.

“The world needs an eco-friendlier, toxic-free disposable nappy with the performance and reliability of a Huggies nappy”, Zo, the Founder and Managing Director of OK&CO., says.

“According to statistics published by The Sector one disposable nappy takes 500 years to decompose, and every child will use, on average, 6500 nappies before they are toilet trained,” Zo adds. “Those 6500 nappies will generate one tonne of plastic waste.”

OK&CO.’s 70 per cent plant-based, and 70 per cent biodegradable, disposable nappies are designed to combat this issue, and to significantly reduce the 100,000 tonnes of solid waste that disposable nappies create each year.

“While there has been a small shift towards reusable nappies for environmental reasons, most parents are of the opinion that reusable nappies are an extra step in their already busy lives that they don’t need, and they could take steps to be environmentally conscious in other ways,” Zo bemoans. “So, our mission is to offer parents and carers a one-stop-shop for reliable, toxic-free, cruelty-free and vegan-friendly plant-based products for their families.”

In just 10 weeks since its launch OK&CO. has already attracted plenty of attention. The start-up has been shortlisted for the Amazon Launchpad Innovation Grant and contacted by investors interested in being a part of Zo’s business journey.

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Whether your focus is in-store or online, a custom-branded package can help your brand and products stand out. Your products also become quickly and easily recognisable, creating an emotional connection to your brand.

It’s a common misconception that custom, branded packaging is expensive and not viable for small or emerging business owners. Consider these tips when exploring custom packaging options:

1. Is your box branded?
   Your logo personifies your brand on every package through colour, style and aesthetics. Adding your logo gives your product instant brand recognition.
2. Is the packaging weight and style premium quality?
   One study shows 52 per cent of online customers will re-purchase if their delivery arrives in premium packaging. Defining premium packaging will differ for every brand and every product. In most cases, the weight of the packaging materials, colour and feel are key indicators.
   With recent lockdowns in much of the country, online sales have been key and that means, how your brand arrives can make the difference between a one-off purchase or repeat custom. For example, if you are selling $99 shirts it’s certain that your customer will appreciate a nicely packaged, premium light-weighted box.
   On the other hand, if you are packaging fresh produce, you will need to think about packaging that is the right weight and made from the right materials to keep your produce as fresh as possible. Or if you have smaller products like spare parts for motor vehicles or optics – ensure your packaging is the right size and shape to deliver safely and securely.
3. Does it convey your brand story with text or pictures?
   A box is never just a box. The size, strength and structure of your box is a blank canvas to tell your brand story. You don’t have to re-invent the box, rather, use your box and packaging to reinforce and reiterate your brand message – keep it consistent, use messages that you have expressed in your advertising, marketing and social media.
4. Is it Eco Friendly?
   A study by The Guardian found that 70 per cent of consumers think highly of brands who use sustainable packaging. Equally as important as sourcing from sustainable suppliers, using eco-friendly materials and working with local suppliers is staying up to date on innovations. Packaging that is eco-friendly is reusable and sustainable. For example, a package that delivers delight may be re-used in and around the home. If your package is re-used, not only does it double up as a storage box, book holder or condiment carrier; it stays with the consumer longer – and so does your brand. A US study found that 74 per cent of consumers are willing to pay extra for sustainable packaging and this trend is only set to increase.

Creating your own custom box doesn’t have to cost time and more money than you can afford. An online innovation that allows everyone to design, create and order customised packages online.

Designing your own packaging online gives business owners creative control, choices, options to order with no minimum quantity and final delivery within 10-12 days. For small and emerging businesses this means fulfilling orders on time and having access to customised packaging that is affordably branded to tell their story and deliver a delightful unboxing experience.

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The call comes on the back of recent reports suggesting that there are almost 2.5 million businesses in Australia buying and throwing away SUP bottles such as communal hand wash and dishwashing liquid each week. Even with the correct office recycling system, the National Waste Report 2020 noted that an overwhelming 85 per cent of plastic, equivalent to 200 Olympic swimming pools, are put into recycling bins and ends up in landfill.

As a way to promote the move away from SUP, Zero Co has launched the Work Waste Challenge which it hopes to shine a light on the impact businesses can have on tackling Australia’s plastic problem.

“The idea is simple, businesses make a plastic-free pledge on our website, we share a staff discount code and set them up with an office starter pack (if they need one) with things like hand wash, multi-purpose cleaner and dishwashing liquid,” Zero Co founder Mike Smith explained in a statement about the Work Waste Challenge. “Their business will be placed on our leader board to show how many SUP bottles they’re diverting from landfill and how many of their staff sign up to join our mission throughout the month.”

Businesses participating in the challenge will also get to contribute to local ocean clean-ups and the use of eco-friendly products that get delivered carbon negative.

“This is the kind of immediate action we need from businesses around Australia,” Smith said. “If we can get workplaces involved in tackling the plastic problem, it sets a great example for employees to take similar action in their homes, too.”

Over 90 businesses have already expressed their participation in the challenge. Zero Co hopes to inspire 1000 Aussie brands to join their SUP free mission before the end of Plastic Free July.

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