Koala Sustainability Profile
by Koala 22/05/2026
by Koala 22/05/2026
This article was contributed by Koala.
Innovating furniture for generations to come
“Our name was chosen deliberately to reflect a broader ambition to protect koalas and help remove them from the endangered species list.” – Dany Milham, CEO and Co-Founder Koala was built on the mission to disrupt the furniture industry that had settled for “good enough”. For over a decade, we have built a design philosophy around one belief: that beautiful, long-lasting products and genuine environmental responsibility are not competing priorities – they are the point. Every material selected, every modular joint engineered, every certified input sourced is part of that commitment. Koala chooses materials based on what they cost the planet, not what they cost the business. Products are designed for circularity from the first sketch – built to move, last longer, and to find a second life through Koala Second Home or our donations program. That conviction extends beyond the products we sell: over $23 million in cash and in-kind donations, of which $10 million through our 1% for the Planet commitment, and $4.9 million directly to koala and wildlife conservation. Alongside partners like WWF-Australia, Koala’s goal is to double the number of koalas on the east coast of Australia by 2050.
&BLOOM Sustainability & ESG has been supporting Koala in strengthening and communicating its sustainability initiatives. Through strategic ESG guidance and sustainability support, &BLOOM has helped Koala continue advancing its responsible business practices and broader environmental commitments.
Koala’s approach to conservation is structural, not seasonal. We contribute to environmental and wildlife conservation through our membership with 1% for the Planet and partnership with organisations such as WWF-Australia and Taronga Conservation Society. To date, we have donated over $23 million in cash and products, $10 million of which has been directed through our 1% for the Planet commitment, and more than $4.9 million specifically to koala and wildlife conservation across Australia.
As part of our donations program, we have re-homed over 22,000 products across 70 charities in Australia – from crisis shelters to community housing providers. Our products go to people who need it and the program operationalises our circularity strategy in a way that is good for people and good for the planet.
Koala designs modular, flat-pack furniture to improve shipping efficiency, enable easy reassembly, and extend product lifespan. Its approach to sustainable furniture supports circular design principles by reducing waste and making products easier to move, repair, and reuse over time. And if an order comes back to us from a 120-day trial, it doesn’t go to waste. Returns are directed to Koala Second Home, refurbished to near-new and resold at a serious discount or donated through our donations program.
Koala sources sustainable materials for its furniture, including FSC-certified timber and fabrics made from recycled and natural fibres. Its design process prioritises durability and responsible material use to reduce waste and minimise reliance on virgin resources. Koala has been committed to sustainable forestry and preventing deforestation since its founding, and became an FSC Australia & New Zealand Promotional Licence Holder in 2019. By using FSC-certified materials in its forest-fibre products, Koala ensures responsible sourcing across its supply chain, from forest to consumer.
In 2025, Koala completed our B Corp recertification with a score of 120.5, a 31% improvement on our previous result and one of the highest scores achieved by an Australian furniture retailer. B Corp certification measures social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
Reconciliation is not a box to tick. For Koala, it is about building stronger relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians, and using our platform and resources to support, include, advocate, and learn. We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work and live, and pay our deepest respects to their Elders past and present. Their enduring connection to Country, to land, sea, and sky, is something Koala draws genuine inspiration from in the work we do. Our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan is the first formal step in that commitment as a proudly Australian-owned brand.
Koala Second Home keeps products out of landfill and gets them to people who want them. Returned products are refurbished to near-new condition and resold at a substantial discount, or donated to one of our charity partners. It is circularity in practice, a direct, operational expression of our belief that good design does not end with the first sale.
Koala became an FSC promotional license holder in 2019, using responsibly sourced timber to ensure its furniture supports sustainable forest management.
Launched in 2023, Koala Second Home is how we operationalise our circularity practices. Returned products are refurbished to near-new condition and resold at a substantial discount, or donated to one of our charity partners. We were recognised for these efforts as AFR’s Sustainability Leader in 2023, along with a Circular Innovation award from Nora.
To date, Koala has donated over $4.9 million to koala and wildlife conservation, supporting a range of organisations across Australia. In partnership with WWF-Australia and other conservation groups, we aim to double the east coast koala population by 2050.
In 2025 we completed our third recertification process, re-certifying with a score of 120.5, a +31% improvement on our previous score.
Design has always been central to who Koala is. The Koala Indigenous Scholarship in Design at the University of Sydney is an extension of that, a commitment to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students have the resources and support to build careers in the field. The scholarship supports full-time undergraduate study at the Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning, covering academic fees, living expenses, and accommodation. It is part of Koala’s broader reconciliation strategy and our belief that meaningful action starts with investing in people.
Report – Governance
Report – Sustainability
Certificate – Certification
Certificate – Membership
Certificate – Accreditation