Sendle, Australia’s first 100% carbon-neutral parcel delivery service, has ceased operations in January 2026, leaving thousands of small business customers searching for alternative shipping solutions.

Company Background

Founded in 2014, Sendle built a loyal following among Australian small businesses with its distinctive value proposition:

Carbon neutral: 100% offset deliveries from launch
Flat-rate pricing: Simple, transparent rates without fuel surcharges
No contracts: Pay-as-you-go model for SMBs
Free pickup: Convenient collection from business addresses
B Corporation certified: Commitment to social and environmental standards

The company positioned itself as the “anti-establishment” carrier, specifically targeting underserved small business shippers who found traditional carriers’ minimum volumes and complex pricing prohibitive.

Impact on Small Businesses

The closure affects a significant segment of the Australian e-commerce ecosystem:

Primary customer base: Home-based sellers, Etsy/eBay merchants, small e-commerce stores
Typical user profile: Businesses shipping 10-200 parcels monthly
Integration footprint: Native connections with Shopify, WooCommerce, eBay

Alternative Carriers for Former Sendle Users

Businesses seeking replacement services should consider:

For Budget-Conscious SMBs

Aramex Australia: Competitive rates, franchise network, eBay integration
Couriers Please: SMB-friendly pricing, metropolitan focus

For E-commerce Integration

Australia Post MyPost Business: Comprehensive platform integrations, widest coverage
StarTrack: Australia Post’s business division, higher volume focus

For Sustainability-Focused Businesses

Australia Post: Carbon-neutral options available
Couriers Please: SingPost Group sustainability initiatives

Lessons for the Market

Sendle’s closure highlights challenges facing specialist carriers:

Margin pressure: Flat-rate models struggle against rising operational costs
Scale requirements: Network density essential for sustainable unit economics
Infrastructure dependency: Asset-light models rely on partner carrier health
Market positioning: Premium positioning (carbon neutral) requires premium pricing tolerance

Transition Recommendations

Affected businesses should:

Immediately: Set up accounts with alternative carriers
This week: Update e-commerce platform shipping settings
Ongoing: Test multiple carriers to find best fit for your shipping profile
Consider: Multi-carrier strategies to reduce single-provider risk

For businesses that valued Sendle’s environmental commitments, most major carriers now offer carbon offset options, though typically at additional cost rather than included in base rates.