Our Story

Method started with a desire to make a visible difference.

In 2011, our co-founders India and Steven Korner decided to take a risk and make a change. Experts in product and graphic design, engineering, and the world of commercial leasing, they left their established roles for an industry that needed reimagining.

Here they could build their own product, while building the foundations of their family.

As the Korners travelled around New Zealand in a van selling bins, liners and recycling labels to businesses, they realised something.

Consistently they would see beautiful modern offices with unattractive recycling systems, or bins hidden away in cupboards. Employees were apathetic about recycling; internal company cultures were ignoring the issue of sustainability in the workplace.

It was time for a new Method – a visible, beautiful, and effective system of change.

Here’s a look at our journey to date:

2013

February

Method's Design Story begins.

2015

January

After launching in New Zealand, our first run of Method 60L Office Recycling Bins sells out pre-production.

July

Tech giant Atlassian becomes our first Australian customer.

August

Method launches a new product, our precyclers.

October

We win two Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards for our 60L Office Recycling Bins and recyclable packaging.

2016

June

Method 60L Bin liners are now available in New Zealand in Black, Clear, and Green Compostable.

We’re a part of Lendlease’s 300,000 SQM Barangaroo South carbon positive development.

August

Method products are introduced to Hong Kong and Singapore markets.

September

We win the Deloitte Fast 50 One to Watch award in the Rising Star category for the Wellington region.

October

We’re a finalist at New Zealand Innovation Awards 2016 for Emerging New Zealand Innovator and Innovation in Sustainability and Clean-Tech.

November

Method opens its second office in Auckland.

December

The Sydney Cricket Ground becomes a Method customer.

We’re ecstatic to win Westpac New Zealand’s $50,000 business growth grant, which we use to further our development in Australia.

2017

February

We officially open our Australian warehouse and our third office in Sydney.

September

Once again we win the Deloitte Fast 50 One to Watch award in the Rising Star category for the Wellington region.

December

We move into our new headquarters inside a beautiful heritage building on Allen Street, Wellington.

2018

January

Our HD Connector is launched, designed for high-flow environments to lock our recycling stations in place.

February

We send one thousand recycling bins to a thought-leading facility in New York City.

March

Method delivers to the U.K. architecture firm Foster + Partners, designers of some of the world’s most innovative buildings.

May

Method won Best Emerging Business at the ExportNZ Awards.

We launched our new global website and online store (NZ + AU).

September

Method opens our first UK office in London.

Our new website won Bronze at the New Zealand Best Design Awards.

November

Highly Commended for the 2018 New Zealand International Business Awards in the ANZ Best Emerging Business category.

November

Method started its first production run using 50% recycled polypropylene in the black components of it's bins - with a goal to increase this over time.

2019

May

Finalist at the Australian Endeavour Awards for Global Supply Chain Integration of the Year