noissue Raises $10M Series A for Sustainable Packaging

Sustainable Packaging Platform Noissue Secures $10 Million in Series A Funding

Noissue, a packaging solutions provider headquartered in New Zealand, is dedicated to providing accessible, environmentally responsible packaging options for businesses regardless of their size. The company’s entire product line – encompassing items such as custom tissue paper, cards, totes, stickers, and tape – is designed to be either 100% reusable, fully recyclable, or readily compostable.

Investment and Expansion Plans

The startup recently announced the successful completion of a $10 million Series A financing round, spearheaded by Felix Capital. According to Josh Bowden, CEO and co-founder of noissue, the acquired capital will be allocated towards expanding the company’s global workforce, enhancing the technology underpinning its platform, and optimizing its supply chain network.

Noissue currently collaborates with a network of manufacturing partners and suppliers located across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, China, Vietnam, and Australia. Furthermore, the company actively offsets carbon emissions associated with shipping through partnerships with logistics providers.

Addressing the Rise in Packaging Waste

The significant growth in e-commerce and the burgeoning creator economy have led to a corresponding increase in packaging materials. This often results in consumer guilt associated with the disposal of packaging waste. A report released in December 2020 by Oceana, a non-profit dedicated to ocean conservation, revealed that e-commerce activities globally – particularly those of Amazon – generated over 2.3 million tons of plastic packaging waste in that year.

Projections indicate this figure will surpass 4.5 million tons by 2025. While online ordering is expected to remain prevalent, the increasing emphasis on sustainability among businesses positions noissue to capitalize on a potentially expanding market.

Industry Trends and Market Opportunity

“We have observed an accelerated growth in both the creator economy and e-commerce over the past year, coupled with a noticeable consumer preference for sustainable and conscious lifestyles,” stated Frederic Court, co-founder of Felix Capital. “noissue is uniquely positioned at the convergence of these trends, and we are enthusiastic about partnering with them to unlock the full potential of their business and establish a leading position in a substantial and growing market, leveraging their platform-based business model.”

The Origins of Noissue

The concept for noissue originated when the founding team encountered challenges while seeking sustainable packaging for their own eco-friendly eyewear brand, which utilizes waste materials in its frame production.

“Finding sustainable packaging options that offered customization at the low order volumes we required proved difficult,” Bowden explained to TechCrunch. “We ultimately sourced the packaging ourselves, only to discover that our retail partners, many of whom were small businesses, were equally interested in the packaging as they were in the eyewear itself! Further investigation revealed a significant gap in the market – a lack of accessible sustainable packaging solutions for small businesses seeking to enhance their brand identity, leading to the creation of noissue to address this unmet need.”

Growth and Customer Base

Established in 2017, noissue currently serves over 80,000 customers and experienced 200% growth across North America during the pandemic. The company provides custom-made products to a diverse range of industries, including apparel, home goods, beauty, wellness, subscription boxes, pet supplies, plants, and outdoor equipment.

New Product Development

Bowden indicated that a portion of the Series A funding will be dedicated to the introduction of new products. Recent launches include compostable kraft mailers, recycled hangtags, and reusable drawstring bags – all developed in response to customer demand. Noissue’s primary customer segments are retail and e-commerce businesses, followed by the hospitality sector and independent “makers.”

“We are incredibly fortunate to work with a diverse customer base across numerous industries who utilize noissue packaging, and we remain committed to delivering an exceptional experience, a carefully curated product selection, and exclusively releasing products that are highly requested by our customers,” Bowden stated. “Our product roadmap is directly influenced by our customer community, who actively vote and suggest new products, ensuring that we only introduce items that meet their specific needs.”

Collaborations and Partnerships

Noissue’s team operates across seven countries and collaborates with a variety of creators and brands, including Mon Coeur, Oak + Fort, Kuyichi, Coalatree, Aesop, McCormick & Company and Davines, as stated by the company.