Jo Howarth, founder of Planet Protector Packaging, has been named a finalist in the Cartier Women’s Initiative, representing the South Asia and Oceania region.
Australian company Planet Protector Packaging uses sheep waste wool to produce a sustainable alternative to polystyrene for use in a range of range of insulated packaging products. Wool is biodegradable, and it is a renewable resource.
Planet Protector has reprocessed more than 1000 tonnes of waste wool for Its Woolpack packaging and has 102 clients across Australia and New Zealand who have chosen not to use polystyrene. To date, the business has replaced 5.2 million polystyrene bins from supply chains and diverted 2600 tonnes of compressed polystyrene from landfill.
Howarth said the solution is a game changer. “We are on an exciting journey of transforming supply chains across the globe,” she said. “We are on a mission to eliminate polystyrene from the planet.”
The Woolpack product is used in cold-chain transport for the ecommerce, seafood, and pharmaceutical industries.
The Cartier Women’s Initiative aims to promote gender equality and to support women entrepreneurs who are leading social-impact businesses that can grow significantly.
Cartier has announced 21 finalists, representing the top three businesses from seven regions around the world. As a finalist, Howarth will receive one-on-one personalised business and financial coaching and access to a series of workshops. There are also local and international press opportunities, and a scholarship to attend a six-day INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Educator programme. All of this in addition to US$100,000 in take-home prize money for each laureate from each region, or US$30,000 for second- and third-place runners up. The funds are to contribute to the growth of the business.
Howarth will now present in front of a jury during the Cartier Awards Week, to be held in Boston in June. Based on her presentation, the judges may select Howarth as the laureate for South Asia and Oceania.
Howarth said she would encourage other women to apply for Cartier’s 2021 Women’s Initiative. “This is an outstanding initiative,” she said. “Not only will you learn, grow, and evolve as a business leader and individual, you will meet the most inspiring and incredible women along the way; women doing amazing things across so many diverse sectors.”
Planet Protector is a finalist for the AIP’s 2020 Packaging Innovation & Design of the Year Awards in the Food Category for its Lobster Protector, as well as in the Sustainable Packaging Design Special Award for both the Lobster Protector and its home compostable mailer pouch.
