# 25 - Michael Hughes CEO of Elevation Labs

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2020-06-13
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-13-25-michael-hughes-ceo-of-elevation-labs
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/25-michael-hughes-ceo-of-elevation-ce4

## Summary

Michael Hughes, CEO of Elevation Labs, discusses his transition from Procter & Gamble to leading a contract manufacturer in Idaho Falls, emphasizing a culture of employee recognition that reduced labor costs by 30% despite higher wages. He details the company's rapid pivot to producing hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 crisis, which created a massive surge in demand for specific packaging components like pumps and sprayers. Hughes highlights the resulting supply chain disruptions, noting customers' urgent shifts toward sourcing from the US and South Korea, and predicts a future where sustainability and refillable packaging systems will regain priority once safety constraints ease.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-13-25-michael-hughes-ceo-of-elevation-labs#t=6) Introduction: Michael Hughes and Elevation Labs
- [2:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-13-25-michael-hughes-ceo-of-elevation-labs#t=165) Hughes' Career: From P&G to Elevation Labs CEO
- [8:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-13-25-michael-hughes-ceo-of-elevation-labs#t=537) Company Culture: Employee Recognition and 'Corona MVPs'
- [21:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-13-25-michael-hughes-ceo-of-elevation-labs#t=1308) Pivoting to Hand Sanitizer and Packaging Supply Chain Issues
- [29:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-13-25-michael-hughes-ceo-of-elevation-labs#t=1780) Sustainability vs. Safety: Refillable Systems and Single-Use Trade-offs
- [36:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-13-25-michael-hughes-ceo-of-elevation-labs#t=2161) The 'Magic Wand': Digitizing Packaging Sourcing and Decision Speed

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Elevation Labs (company)
- Procter & Gamble (company)
- Costco (company)
- Jakers (company)
- Nike (company)

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