green business Archives - Page 2 of 2

76: HexcelPack – Sustainable Packing Solutions That Work

September 28, 2021 aviyer2000 00:39:22 0 Comments

HexcelPack™ was founded in 2014 using an updated version of a 30-year-old technology developed by David Goodrich, with the idea of using paper to replace the traditional, one-use plastic products that are prevalent throughout the world in the packaging industry. HexcelPack’s™ proprietary slit paper technology was developed in the early 90’s when it was discovered that the hexagon is one of the strongest shapes to engineer, and it was possible to successfully manufacture slit paper using the hexagon shape. Back then, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch was still unknown, and most people had little awareness of the wide-ranging negative impact of plastic waste on ocean ecosystems. Today, a concern for preserving ocean ecology is the company’s driving influence – making recyclable, sustainable paper packaging products in lieu of plastic. HexcelPack™ uses specialty kraft papers that make HexcelWrap™ completely unique. We talk to Lorne Herszkowicz, Partner of Hexcel Pak about how nature inspired this sustainable innovation. Learn more in this episode.

Design and Innovation

76: HexcelPack - Sustainable Packing Solutions That Work

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75: Kudos – Natural Disposable Diapers

September 21, 2021 aviyer2000 00:29:54 0 Comments

In this episode, we talk with Amrita Saigal, founder of Kudos, natural disposable diapers – the only disposable diaper that has 100% cotton touching baby’s bum all day. Kudos is the only disposable diaper to have earned the cotton natural™ seal for being lined with 100% cotton instead of plastic. Kudos have also been certified to the strictest safety standard, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. Designed by a team of MIT-trained engineers (and moms!), the patent-pending DoubleDry™ tech handles moisture and provides overnight-level reliability with two layers of protection instead of one. Amrita talks about her journey, setting up Sathi – a plant-based material maxi pads, to Google X, some sibling bonding time working at Thunkable, her brother’s startup, and finally landing to launch Kudos. It has been a journey where with hard work and perseverance Kudos had received 2.4 million in seed funding from investors like Foundation Capital, XFund, PJC, Precursor Ventures, Liquid 2 Ventures, SV Angel, Underscore VC, Alpha Bridge Ventures, April Underwood among others. Learn now in this episode.

Sustainable Materials

75: Kudos - Natural Disposable Diapers

00:00 / 00:29:54

74: MPOWERD – The Power of Sun in Your Hands

September 14, 2021 aviyer2000 00:41:23 0 Comments

We speak with John Salzinger founder and Seungah Jeong CEO of MPOWERD, about their company mission and passion to give back. In 2012 MPOWERD created Luci, the first inflatable solar light with the goal of making an affordable clean energy product that people could use in any situation. They create sustainable, affordable, and thoughtfully designed products that suit the needs of the many. The belief that everyone deserves access to clean, reliable and affordable energy, no matter how or where they live has driven them to create their sustainable products. For over 3 billion people, everyday tasks are made more difficult (and dangerous) than they should be. Access to clean energy can improve health, create education equality, economic empowerment, all the while combating climate change.

As a B Corp, they use the power of business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. As a social enterprise, they reinvest a majority of their gross revenue to achieve sustainability, increase their reach to enable them to fulfill their mission. Aside from the Give Luci Program – which donates lights to their partners – their sustainable business model means that the more they sell here at home, the more affordable they can sell to emerging markets and nonprofits. As a member of the American Sustainable Business Council along with other members like Patagonia, Ben and Jerry’s, Greyston Bakery, Avocado Green Mattress, advocate for policy change and inform business owners, policymakers, and the public about the need and opportunities for building a vibrant, broadly prosperous, sustainable economy. Listen to their journey in this episode.

https://mpowerd.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/podcast-links

Design and Innovation

74: MPOWERD - The Power of Sun in Your Hands

00:00 / 00:41:23

70: Let’s Goat Buffalo – Changing the Landscape, One Bite At a Time

August 17, 2021 aviyer2000 00:29:48 0 Comments

Let’s Goat Buffalo employs rescued goats to eat unwanted vegetation growth! Whether it’s a residential yard that needs clearing, a commercial property that has become overgrown and high-risk, or a park or highway that has become less accessible to the public, their herds are prepared to help! We chat with the bubbly Jennifer Zeitler – Founder and CEO of Let’s Goat Buffalo, on how she transitioned from Human Resources to goatscaping. The term “goatscaping” means grazing goats to manage vegetation growth in an environmentally sound manner. Goatscaping greatly reduces the use of toxic herbicides, and because the goat digestive process effectively sterilizes seeds and reproductive plant matter, they are an ideal treatment for invasive plants. Let’s Goat Buffalo offers grazing services within suburban, urban and rural environments. By choosing natural treatment, Let’s Goat customers are choosing healthier soil, increased biodiversity, and a greener future. Jennifer Zeitler collaborated with a goat dairy farm Alpine Maid and rescued the goats to bring a sustainable solution to remove overgrown brush and weeds. She was also made a How I Built This, fellow, in 2021 by NPR. Come listen now to her journey.

Agriculture & Farming

70: Let’s Goat Buffalo - Changing the Landscape, One Bite At a Time

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67: Avocado Green Mattress – Organic Mattress

July 20, 2021 aviyer2000 00:27:33 0 Comments

This week we talk with the Sustainability Director of Avocado mattresses, Bri Decker. Avocado organic mattresses are handmade with only the finest naturally non-toxic and 100% certified organic materials from their own farms in sunny California. A Certified B Corporation, Avocado mattress was born when one of the founders Jeff D’Andrea couldn’t find a green mattress for his newborn baby. Their mission is to be the most respected source for organic mattresses and pillows at affordable prices — while maintaining environmentally conscious, ethical, and sustainable business practices — to help safeguard the health of people and the planet. Learn more about their journey in our next episode.

Impact

67: Avocado Green Mattress - Organic Mattress

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66: Bengal Muslin

July 13, 2021 aviyer2000 00:47:16 0 Comments

Woven Air – as muslin was known in the 1600s…the Portuguese legend said it was the fabric woven by mermaids. What makes a fabric muslin? The original muslin was produced solely from a cotton plant called, Phuti Karpas, which grew exclusively along the banks of a certain stretch of the Brahmaputra river. The extracted cotton was then hand-spun into an extraordinarily delicate yarn in villages near Dhaka, Bangladesh. Six yards of muslin cloth could be fitted into a matchbox, sixty yards would fit inside the shell of a coconut, a pound of this yarn could be stretched for 250 miles.

The finished cloth woven on looms that have barely changed over the centuries was sought after by royalty and traded globally across the Middle East and Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, earning enormous revenue for those involved in its trade. Tragically, the industry was deliberately and cruelly erased by past colonial rulers, especially the East India Company and replaced with their machine-made fabrics in the 19th century.

As a result the plant, along with muslin’s spinners and weavers, receded into the pages of history. Today, the best examples of the finished product are in the custody of Western museums and viewed mostly by Western audiences.

We talk to Saiful Islam, Managing Director of Bengal Muslin, that has identified the DNA from the fossilized plants to revive and grow the plant again. He talks to us about the challenges that Bengal Muslin faced to find, train and motivate the traditional generational spinners – who still had the collective memory of the fabric to weave 400 count Dhaka muslin. Listen to this passionate Saiful Islam only on Mindful Businesses. Saiful’s picture was taken through muslin for the cover for this episode.

PC: @Drik @Saiful Islam @Bengal Muslin

Europe

66: Bengal Muslin

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62: Rhino Machines – Silica Plastic Blocks

June 8, 2021 aviyer2000 00:42:37 0 Comments

When Manish Kothari, Managing Director of Rhino Machines and a second-generation entrepreneur involved in the casting and foundry industry in India, saw how dark, dusty and dangerous this industry was to the environment and the workers, he decided to do something about it. He is a social entrepreneur with a passion for innovation who decided to tackle the dust and sand waste that the foundry creates. He reached out to Shridhar Rao, a partner in the architect firm R + D studio to make a brick by combining the foundry dust with plastic to create the first Silica Plastic Block (SPB). The SPB tested 2.5 times stronger than regular brick and it was comparable in cost to the regular bricks in Indian metro cities. They have created a sustainable alternative to traditional brick.

Manish is adamant about not patenting his innovation and in fact, believes in assisting and sharing the know-how with other sustainable entrepreneurs. Learn more about these enterprising, creative and forward-thinking entrepreneurs on Mindful Businesses podcast.

India

62: Rhino Machines - Silica Plastic Blocks

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48: Solar Panda – Transforming Lives with Low-cost Solar Home Systems

February 16, 2021 aviyer2000 00:27:10 0 Comments

We chat with Brett Bergmann, COO of Solar Panda, Transforming Lives with Low-cost Solar Home Systems about the day when he visited a Solar Panda customer who for the first time had electricity in their home. It was one of the most rewarding days for Brett. How can we live lives and have jobs which are impactful? Solar Panda develops innovative solar energy systems to electrify homes and small businesses. Each upgradeable kit comes with lights, mobile charging, a radio, lantern, and torch, with options for premium appliances like a TV.
For more episodes go to our website:https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/podcast-1
To learn more about Solar Panda:
https://solarpanda.com/

Africa

48: Solar Panda - Transforming Lives with Low-cost Solar Home Systems

00:00 / 00:27:10

45: Green Heirloom – Sustainable Organic Cookware

January 19, 2021 aviyer2000 00:20:53 0 Comments

We chat with Kaviya Cherian, founder of Green Heirloom, as we follow the traditions and customs of traditional cookware in different parts of the world, how our food and cookware are far more connected than we think. Green Heirloom is a unique platform that brings sustainable and eco-friendly cookware from artisans and creators across India to the world. Green Heirloom not only assures quality and a treasured asset that can be bequeathed to generations, but it also helps you to do your bit in sustaining many communities who rely on this traditional occupation. They work with artisans, involve and engage with them at each step of the way, not only to bring to market a product suited for their customers but also to ensure that the artisans are rewarded adequately for their efforts.

Design and Innovation

45: Green Heirloom - Sustainable Organic Cookware

00:00 / 00:20:53

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