How Radhika Mayani’s Left-handesign is making stationery plantable, one country at a time

In 2017, Radhika Mayani launched Singapore’s first-ever plantable stationery range – pens, pencils and paper products that grow into herbs when planted.

Despite a slow initial uptake, Mayani’s brand, Left-handesign, now turns over six figures annually and is expanding into Australia’s growing eco-ethical market.

In a recent interview with SmartCompany Plus, Mayani shared her slow and steady journey into the world of sustainable small business and how securing the right customers can unlock a world of possibilities.

Wasteful inspiration

Before starting Left-handesign, Mayani spent 15 years working as a graphic designer in advertising agencies in Mumbai and Dubai. When she later moved to Singapore, she began working as an in-house designer with a large luxury hotel chain. Here, she was exposed to the vast amount of wastage within the hospitality industry. 

“From the food to the toiletries, linen and plastic waste — there was so much waste happening around me,” she says. 

“I have always loved stationery and wanted to create my own business, so I started marrying these ideas in my brain. How could I help solve a problem but still design something beautiful and useful?”

Mayani’s answer came in the form of a sustainable stationery range.

Left-handesign manufactures plantable pencils, pens, notebooks, gift cards, envelopes, wrapping paper, and greeting cards. All these products are wood-free and grow into one of 13 different herbs once planted. But initially, the product range was much tighter.

The early days

Mayani’s journey into plantable products began with the simple pencil. Originally made from wood (the pencils are now made from recycled newspaper), she spent three months in India sourcing a manufacturer who shared her vision. In the second year, as a “buzz” grew around sustainability, she expanded the range to include a few FSC-certified paper products. 

“Only the pencils were plantable in the early days,” she explains. “I only had a few products because I wanted to see how the market would respond to those small offerings.” And the response was slow. 

“I started off thinking schools would be my first client, but they never got into the products,” Mayani says. 

“Universities were more supportive because they offer environmental studies, but it was very hard in the beginning.” 

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Mayani had no sales for almost two years, causing serious doubts about her venture amongst family. “It was tough. I knew I wasn’t creating this business on a whim, and I believed in it, but my husband and mum were both questioning my choice. The tipping point came in 2019 when I received my first wholesale order.”

Mayani’s first corporate customer was a leading hotel chain in Singapore that wanted more than 5,000 customised pencils. “They were more progressed in their sustainability journey than many other companies,” she says. 

“This was the small win I needed.” 

That year she also added a bank and other large companies to her client list, and Mayani was invited on an all-expenses-paid trip to Seoul to participate in a handmade fair and speak about her products.

By the time the pandemic hit in 2020, Mayani was well-positioned to weather any obstacles. Her e-commerce sales increased that year as more retail customers shopped online, and she continued to receive orders from corporate clients who were happy to wait for products, even with supply chain delays. 

“I hate waste, so only manufacture in small quantities, plus I have to consider the lifespan of the seeds in each product, so I never keep large quantities of stock,” Mayani says. 

“My clients were happy to wait for a product that aligned with their corporate values, so the pandemic wasn’t too much of a problem.”

Creating change

Because Mayani’s products are designed to solve a problem, she has found herself in the role of an educator and an entrepreneur for the past six years.  

“Because I created something entirely new to Singapore, I’ve had to explain why it’s needed: why is this a better option, what the impact on the planet is, why I choose these materials. I just constantly have to repeat myself, but there’s no way around it,” she says. 

Visiting trade fairs and markets and accepting speaking opportunities have all played a vital role in expanding the brand awareness of Left-handesign. Social media has also been crucial. 

“Instagram is a great channel for us to educate our customers,” Mayani says. 

“It’s there that we can talk about sustainability, composting, greenwashing and the materials we use. If our values resonate, we channel customers to our website and generate enquiries.”

Awards have also played an important role for Mayani. 

“I got lucky and won many awards in Singapore,” she says. “Awards provide great PR and marketing opportunities to get your brand name out. And the awards for SMEs and entrepreneurs are good for networking.

“When I worked in advertising, I never understood the importance of awards. I thought, if the ad is good, resonates with customers, and converts to sales, that’s great. You don’t need an award. But now that I have my own business, my perception has changed so much,” Mayani says. 

“Awards give you credibility and self-assurance that you’re on the right track.”

Australian expansion

With her foothold in Singapore secured, Mayani has now relocated to Australia.

“Australia has been a market I’ve wanted to explore for some time because it’s more mature in terms of sustainability,” she says. “There are lots of rules and regulations around greenwashing and sustainability standards.”

To help validate her product in this new market, she’s in the process of applying for certification with B Corporation. Left-handesign is also a 1% for the Planet program member, meaning 1% of sales are donated to preserve and restore the natural environment. 

Mayani predicts manufacturing logistics will be her biggest obstacle in Australia and hopes to assemble some of her products locally to shorten turn-around times. After six years of running her business solo, she’s also planning to hire staff and open the business to investors.

“My main goal is to be present in every household in Australia, not just every business,” Mayani says. 

“I would love plantable products to be the new norm. But regardless of what happens, turning my passion into a purpose that solves a very real problem has been the most amazing journey.”

Mayani’s top tips for eco-ethical entrepreneurs:

1. Have faith in your journey

   All of your experiences will contribute to your eventual success; you just need to have faith in the timing of life and believe in your product.

2. Never stop learning

   I’ve currently invested in an intensive business coaching program, and while the workload is heavy, it’s worth the effort.

3. Give back to your community

   Whether you’re supporting environmental initiatives or mentoring young people, it’s important to always consider how you and your brand impact the people and environment you work in.