Maja Rose and Tess Lloyd met in 1999 while studying Industrial Design together at the University of Technology, Sydney. After graduating into professional roles, the designers soon sought the fulfillment of creating their own products by hand. Polli was born from their strong interests in sustainable design, craft culture and fashion.

Polli is a low CO2 company which is socially responsible, reducing their environmental footprint wherever possible. They achieved this rating by offsetting the carbon emissions produced by their energy consumption, flights, car travel and team commuting. They have extensive studio based recycling; use natural light or energy efficient globes; use natural airflow and cooling; and walk or cycle locally where possible. Their team shares a communal lunch, cooked in house from local organic ingredients; this keeps them healthy and happy. They reuse where possible or donate offcuts to local schools and artists. Their products are designed to last both in their durability of material and process and also in their independent design aesthetic. Good design should never be disposed of.