Hardware Podcasts

Re-imagining the Future of Packaging with Insiya Jafferjee, Co-founder & CEO at Shellworks

Hardware to Save a Planet · 29 Sept 2022 · 39m · Episode 10

What this episode covers

Insiya Jafferjee, co-founder and CEO of Shellworks, explains how her company creates compostable packaging materials from bacterial cellulose to replace plastic in the beauty industry. She details the technical challenges of formulating and injection molding this new material, the company's strategy of selling functional prototypes every three months to force commercial validation, and the complexities of end-of-life disposal and greenwashing in sustainable materials.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Shellworks, Apple, Nokla, Sway, Heckles
Products
Vivomer
Also
Stanford, Royal College of Art, Imperial College of London

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • People of Packaging · 29m

    320 - CAN THEY SOLVE IT?!? SmartSolve helps companies leave no trace!

    Dana Prenger of SmartSolve, a Bowling Green, Ohio-based packaging company, explains their water-soluble materials and the upcoming 'Pure Nil 0' bio-based product launching in January 2026. Hosts Evelio Mattos and Adam discuss applications ranging from bath bombs and laundry pods to food packaging, highlighting how the material dissolves or disperses without leaving microplastics. The conversation addresses the challenge of 'greenwashing' by emphasizing certified, verifiable sustainability and the elimination of waste hassle for consumers in sectors like beauty, personal care, and retail.

    Materials & manufacturing processesPackaging design
    6 chapters

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 33m

    Founder Feature: Woo Pailet of LOO

    Woo Pailet, co-founder and head of marketing for LOO, explains how a four-person founding team created a plant-based, flushable wipe brand with fully recyclable packaging to combat microplastic pollution. She details the rigorous R&D process, including GD4 compliance testing for flushability and the selection of natural plant pulp fibers, as well as the challenges of finding manufacturers willing to produce a novel format. Pailet discusses the company's bootstrapped financial model, their strategy of destigmatizing wipes through premium design and targeted sampling in New York City, and their upcoming participation in Expo West.

    Starting a product companyMaterials & manufacturing processes
    6 chapters

  • People of Packaging · 48m

    20 - Steve Steele from Recapture Technologies

    Steve Steele, founder of Recapture Technologies, explains his polymicrobial bioproduct system that produces pure cellulose from atmospheric carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight. He argues that current packaging sustainability efforts, like reducing plastic straw usage, are insufficient to address the scale of climate change and that Recapture’s technology offers a carbon-negative, price-competitive alternative to wood pulp. Steele highlights the supply chain stability of manufacturing cellulose in bioreactors versus relying on agricultural variables, positioning the product as a solution for industries like cellophane production. The company is currently bootstrapped and seeking partners in the cellophane and raw material sectors to pilot their beta plant.

    Materials & manufacturing processesSustainability & circular products
    8 chapters

  • People of Packaging · 27m

    183 - Compostable Packaging with Jason Friday from Bar U Eat

    Jason Friday, co-founder of Bar U Eat, explains how his company became the first to use BPI-certified industrially compostable packaging for granola bars. He details the transition from ineffective craft pouches to plant-based films derived from FSC-certified wood pulp and corn, which required building an in-house manufacturing facility to handle the slower sealing speeds. Friday discusses the trade-offs of this approach, including an 80 bars-per-minute production rate and a 9-month shelf life, while emphasizing the environmental benefits of non-toxic breakdown compared to traditional plastics.

    Materials & manufacturing processesSustainability & circular products
    7 chapters

  • People of Packaging · 35m

    277 - This episode was banned on Youtub3!

    Hosts Evelio Mattos, Adam Peek, and Cory Connors discuss CPG innovation, specifically the Oreo and Coca-Cola collaboration, noting that such partnerships are necessary for growth in saturated markets. They analyze the technical challenges of switching Oreo packaging from plastic to paper, highlighting moisture absorption issues and the high cost of sustainable alternatives. The conversation also explores the circular economy potential of starch-based packaging peanuts, discussing how they can be dissolved to create adhesives, while warning against the infrastructure risks of flushing large volumes of dissolvable foams or wipes.

    Packaging designSustainability & circular products
    6 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Hardware to Save a Planet. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.