# 61 - Hanko Kiessner, Executive Chairman of the Board at Packsize

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2021-05-25
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-05-25-61-hanko-kiessner-executive-chairman-of-the-board-at-packsize
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/61-hanko-kiessner-executive-chairman-c02

## Summary

Hanko Kiessner, Executive Chairman of Packsize, recounts his journey from a small town in Germany to founding Packsize in Utah in 2002, starting operations from his parents' basement. He explains how Packsize utilizes Z-fold corrugated technology and enterprise-grade software to create on-demand, right-sized packaging, addressing the industry-wide problem of oversized boxes and excessive void fill. Kiessner highlights the sustainability benefits, noting that eliminating oversized packaging could save 98 million trees and 24 million truckloads annually in the US alone, while also improving customer experience and product protection. The company is currently scaling its platform to reduce the estimated 50 million daily bad packaging experiences, leveraging its own sustainable infrastructure, including solar power and EV charging, to support its mission.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-05-25-61-hanko-kiessner-executive-chairman-of-the-board-at-packsize#t=1) Introduction: Hanko Kiessner and Packsize
- [3:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-05-25-61-hanko-kiessner-executive-chairman-of-the-board-at-packsize#t=217) Kiessner's immigration story and early life in Germany
- [8:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-05-25-61-hanko-kiessner-executive-chairman-of-the-board-at-packsize#t=529) Moving to the US and founding Packsize in 2002
- [16:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-05-25-61-hanko-kiessner-executive-chairman-of-the-board-at-packsize#t=963) Operating from a basement and first customers
- [22:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-05-25-61-hanko-kiessner-executive-chairman-of-the-board-at-packsize#t=1375) Packsize's Z-fold technology and on-demand packaging solution
- [30:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-05-25-61-hanko-kiessner-executive-chairman-of-the-board-at-packsize#t=1823) Sustainability impact: trees, truckloads, and carbon savings
- [36:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-05-25-61-hanko-kiessner-executive-chairman-of-the-board-at-packsize#t=2208) Scaling the business and future vision
- [38:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-05-25-61-hanko-kiessner-executive-chairman-of-the-board-at-packsize#t=2325) Packsize's sustainable workplace infrastructure

## Topics

- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Packsize (company)
- Z-fold corrugated (material)
- UPS (company)
- Amazon (company)
- USPS (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Making garbage useful with Tom Szaky of TerraCycle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-08-17-making-garbage-useful-with-tom-szaky-of-terracycle) (How I Built This)
- [The Waste Management Industry with Jeff Satwicz, Co-Founder of Bigbelly](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-06-23-the-waste-management-industry-with-jeff-satwicz-co-founder-of-bigbelly) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Boxed: Chieh Huang](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-02-22-boxed-chieh-huang) (How I Built This)
- [Osprey Packs: Mike Pfotenhauer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-20-osprey-packs-mike-pfotenhauer) (How I Built This)
- [Herschel Supply Co.: Jamie and Lyndon Cormack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-10-16-herschel-supply-co-jamie-and-lyndon-cormack) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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