Skipper: Scaling sustainability in eCommerce with Australia Post

When the world slowed down in 2020, two long‑time friends found themselves asking a bigger question: could everyday products be reimagined to do genuine good - at scale?

For Skipper co‑founders Lachlan Hill and May Bandi, the answer came not from a boardroom, but from a whiteboard in a Sunshine Coast holiday house, during the uncertainty of the pandemic. 

With time on their hands and a shared desire to create meaningful impact, they decided to build a business that would make more sustainable products accessible, as well as commercially viable.

That decision marked the beginning of Skipper’s eCommerce journey, one that has grown from a handful of parcels sent from a garage to a community of more than 300,000 customers worldwide - with Australia Post supporting them from the very start.

A simple insight that sparked a new way of thinking

The lightbulb moment for Skipper came from a simple but confronting realisation: most household cleaning and personal care products are made up of 95–99% water, shipped around the country in single‑use plastic bottles.

During the height of COVID‑19, Lachlan noticed the surge in handwash and sanitiser bottles filling homes - and bins. The environmental cost didn’t make sense.

Skipper’s solution was radical in its simplicity: remove the water. By dehydrating everyday products into lightweight tablets that customers dissolve at home, Skipper could dramatically reduce plastic waste, transport emissions and packaging, without asking customers to change their habits.

The goal wasn’t perfection, but progress. Customers could keep using the same products they already relied on - just in a smarter, more sustainable way.

Launching an eCommerce business in uncertain times

Skipper officially began in June 2020. It took seven months to sell their first product - a period filled with product development, customer testing and learning how to run an eCommerce business from scratch.

One of the biggest early questions wasn’t about demand, but behaviour: would people really buy home care products online?

For Skipper, the answer depended on experience. Every touchpoint - from website checkout to delivery - had to feel seamless, reliable and human.

That’s where logistics quickly became mission‑critical.

Why Australia Post became Skipper’s first - and longest‑serving - partner

In the earliest days, Skipper’s orders were packed and sent from Lachlan’s parents’ garage. Australia Post wasn’t just a delivery provider - it was a hands‑on partner.

At their local Sunshine Coast Post Office, the team helped Skipper get set up despite having very low volumes, supporting their ultra‑light products with delivery solutions well suited to their small, waterless designs.

As the business grew, that early support scaled with them. “Australia Post has been with us from the very beginning,” Lachlan says. “That personal service - combined with the reliability of such a trusted national network - is why we’ve stayed.”

Building trust at scale

As a direct‑to‑consumer brand, Skipper puts customer experience at the centre of everything they do. Reliable delivery isn’t just operational - it’s brand‑defining.

Customers trust that their order won’t be left in a random place, that it can be tracked easily, and that it will arrive when expected - even during peak periods.

For a growing eCommerce business, that trust matters.

“When you’re a startup, you’re fighting fires everywhere,” Lachlan explains. “The last thing you want is to be fighting fires on freight. With Australia Post, delivery is almost set‑and‑forget, and that peace of mind is invaluable.”

Innovation that supports sustainability goals

As Skipper’s product range expanded, Australia Post continued to evolve alongside them. One standout innovation has been the introduction of the extra small/250g rate, which better reflects the reality of Skipper’s ultra‑light products.

This not only helps reduce costs, it aligns with Skipper’s commitment to minimising unnecessary packaging and waste.

Sustainability also extends to last‑mile delivery. With Australia's largest electric delivery vehicle fleet, Australia Post helps reduce tailpipe emissions on the journey to the customer.

“For last‑mile logistics, Australia Post is the clear winner,” Lachlan says. “Their values align with ours, and that makes the partnership a natural fit.”

Reaching every corner of Australia

Skipper’s customer base spans cities, apartments, farms and remote communities and Australia Post’s nationwide network makes that possible.

For customers in regional and remote areas, access matters. Australia Post remains the only delivery network that reaches everywhere from inner‑city apartments to places like Birdsville, Broome and the Cocos Islands.

That reach allows Skipper to serve customers who benefit most from lightweight, waterless products, especially in areas where transporting heavy goods has a higher environmental and logistical cost.

Scaling impact through eCommerce

Today, Skipper has prevented close to 500,000 kilograms of plastic waste and avoided shipping products containing millions of litres of water, impact built directly into the product, not added as an afterthought.

Their eCommerce model allows them to stay closely connected to customers, build community, and continuously improve based on real feedback, something that would be far harder through traditional retail alone.

While Skipper is exploring selective retail opportunities, direct‑to‑consumer eCommerce remains the heart of the business.

“It gives us visibility, accountability and the ability to nurture real relationships,” Lachlan says. “That’s what keeps the mission alive.”

Lessons for other eCommerce businesses

Skipper’s journey shows that successful eCommerce isn’t about shortcuts or hype. It’s about solving a real problem, committing to the customer experience and choosing partners who can grow with you.

For Skipper, Australia Post has been more than a delivery service - it’s been a trusted partner in building a purpose‑led business from the ground up.

And as they continue to grow, that partnership remains central to helping everyday choices become a force for good.

Read how we’re supporting Australian businesses through our 2030 Sustainability Framework.