Recent graduate Mitchell (Mitch) Taylor (BA 2023) is a forward-thinking entrepreneur who has made a significant impact in both the business and environmental spheres.
His journey into entrepreneurship began while studying at Murdoch University, where he successfully sold his first e-commerce venture. However, it was the launch of Koala.com in 2015 that truly exemplified his commitment to creating outstanding products while positively contributing to the environment and community.
Teaming up with childhood friend Danny Milham, Mitch founded Koala.com, an online furniture retailer with a unique mission. The company, named after the iconic Australian marsupial, pledged to adopt a koala in collaboration with Port Macquarie’s Koala Hospital and later the WWF for every mattress sold. This environmental initiative, initially local, has now evolved into a global partnership encompassing various species and regions. Starting with an initial investment of $100,000, Koala.com achieved a remarkable turnover of $13 million in its inaugural year, setting the stage for rapid expansion.
Koala.com has grown beyond mattresses, diversifying its product suite to include a wide range of furniture and homeware items. With a presence in Australia, Japan, Korea, and the USA, the company is currently in the process of expanding its global footprint. Mitchell's upbringing in rural Australia and his studies in Sustainability have shaped his unwavering commitment to altruism and the natural world.
At Koala, Mitchell has actively collaborated with scientists and Indigenous rangers to protect koalas in Eastern Australia and turtles on the Great Barrier Reef. In the lush bushland surrounding his home in Byron Bay, he has spearheaded initiatives to replant thousands of trees, creating vital koala corridors. This commitment extends to regenerating ecosystems and koala habitats devastated by bushfires in Eastern Australia, resulting in Koala donating over $5 million to Australian charities since 2016.
Mitchell's dedication to sustainability is deeply embedded in the design and development of Koala.com's product range. All wood products source FSC timber, harvested from forests managed in a manner that preserves biological diversity and benefits local communities. The company ensures the highest standards of animal welfare and land management by using wool certified by the Responsible Wool Standard. Moreover, Koala is on track to achieve circular product design for all its offerings by 2030, including the resale of returned products.
Emphasising environmental responsibility, Koala.com proudly supports One Percent for the Planet, an international organisation where members contribute at least one percent of their annual revenue to environmental causes. Additionally, the company was among the first furniture retailers to attain B Corporation certification, highlighting its commitment to social and environmental accountability.
Mitchell Taylor's journey with Koala.com challenges the prevailing cynicism that industrial and manufacturing endeavours are inevitably detrimental to the earth. His entrepreneurial success is not only measured in financial terms but also in the positive impact his business has had on the environment, wildlife conservation, and the communities it serves. As Koala.com continues to grow and innovate, Mitchell Taylor stands as a testament to the possibility of harmonising business success with environmental stewardship.
