SME /  SUSTAINABILITY

By FedEx | First published: June 30, 2023    Updated: September `17, 2026

SuperBee started out as a sustainable small business making beeswax wraps by hand in the mountains of Northern Thailand. Today, the social enterprise runs a thriving cross-border e-commerce business, helping households around the world reduce single-use plastic waste.

• SuperBee designs and sells zero-waste, sustainable household products such as beeswax food wraps to consumers around the world. 
• Based in the remote mountains of Chiang Mai, the small business works closely with FedEx to streamline cross-border shipping, arrange convenient pickups, and minimize customs clearance delays.
• Since partnering with FedEx, the social enterprise has grown fourfold and now ships globally from warehouses in Thailand, the US, and Europe.

Whether you’re keeping leftover food fresh or packing sandwiches for lunch, cling wrap offers a handy and versatile solution. But this convenience comes at a cost: it’s typically discarded after a single use, adding to the global challenge of plastic pollution. Not only is it difficult to recycle, it can also release toxic chemicals when sent to landfills or incinerators.

What alternatives can match the flexibility and airtight protection of cling wrap – without the environmental impact? Sustainable small businesses like SuperBee are bringing an inventive solution to the world: beeswax food wraps.

Based in the picturesque mountains of Northern Thailand, SuperBee aims to transform everyday consumer choices into positive environmental impact by designing reusable, sustainable household products. Starting out as a homegrown beeswax wrap brand, the SME has grown into a thriving e-commerce business whose products can be found in kitchens around the world.

A social enterprise that ships globally

SuperBee was born in 2016 when Australian-born founder Antoinette Jackson became concerned about the growing problem of single-use plastic waste – and decided to create her own solution.

Living in Chiang Mai, she began experimenting with beeswax from her kitchen bench at home. After many failed attempts, she finally perfected a recipe for reusable beeswax wraps that were food-safe, easy to wash, and 100% biodegradable.

The social enterprise began as a five-person team with a vision to make households more sustainable. Many of Antoinette’s employees were women from local villages, reflecting her commitment to empowering women and creating employment opportunities in rural communities. She also established a sustainable manufacturing process by sourcing materials locally and upcycling production waste.

As the brand took off, SuperBee expanded its e-commerce business and began targeting more overseas markets. Its international business expansion was making steady progress until the pandemic hit in 2020, disrupting its operations. Orders slowed, and overseas shipments were delayed or lost.

To sustain its business expansion overseas, SuperBee needed a reliable logistics partner with the expertise to navigate these disruptions. In 2021, the social enterprise reached out to FedEx for support.

From remote mountains to markets around the world

SuperBee’s remote location in the mountains of Chiang Mai poses unique logistics challenges, particularly when it comes to fulfilling international orders. With FedEx’s efficient pickup and delivery services, the brand has been able to streamline its shipping process and fulfill orders seamlessly to over 220 countries and territories.

“With FedEx, it’s so easy to arrange a pickup, even though we’re located in a remote location,” says Chomchanach Yanaharn, the logistics manager of SuperBee. “It gives us the flexibility to choose a pickup date and time that is most convenient for us.”

In addition, the small business taps FedEx’s cross-border customs expertise to minimize clearance delays and keep shipments on schedule. “Since we normally ship in large orders to the US, we need to ensure that the products can clear customs at the destination without any hiccups,” explains Yanaharn.

Since partnering with FedEx, the brand has grown fourfold from its humble beginnings. Today, SuperBee ships a range of sustainable household products globally from warehouses in Thailand, the US, and Europe, with FedEx as its fulfillment partner. This includes exporting over USD 390,000 worth of products per order to a supermarket chain in the US.

While SuperBee operates an offline business through wholesale and small retailers, e-commerce remains its main sales channel. Close to 80% of its total transactions come from overseas customers, making seamless logistics essential to supporting its international business expansion.

“FedEx offers a comprehensive portfolio of services to support small businesses with e-commerce shipping needs. Because our products are made from the heart, we want our logistics service provider to deliver them with care, so that they arrive safely in the hands of our customers,” shares Yanaharn.

Crafted with purpose, delivered with care

SuperBee’s journey illustrates how small businesses can create meaningful impact both locally and globally. The brand continues to uplift rural communities by fostering a supportive working environment, providing local artisans with access to markets, and offering wages 20% above Thailand’s minimum wage. Many employees have been with the company since its early days, with some going on to take on management roles through leadership training.

At the same time, SuperBee is broadening its impact through collaboration and education. As an advocate for sustainability, it donates a portion of its earnings and products to support sustainable projects globally. The brand also runs educational campaigns and supports other ethical businesses through its social media channels.

As sustainable small businesses like SuperBee blaze a trail, FedEx is committed to helping them reach new markets and seize new opportunities. With its cross-border logistics expertise, FedEx helps brands deliver thoughtfully made products with care, enabling teams to stay focused on what matters most: people, purpose, and the planet.