177 - Corey Scholibo talks about women's health and sustainability, Co Founder of Wile Women

People of Packaging · 5 Jan 2023 · 26m

What this episode covers

Corey Scholibo, Co-Founder and COO of Wile Women, discusses the significant challenges of sourcing sustainable packaging for a startup supplement brand. He explains that while Wile aims for compostable refill systems, economic realities force the use of plastic bottles due to low buying power and lack of PCR availability at small scales. Scholibo also details his work with Kaboo, focusing on bamboo-based paper products and innovations like paper-wrapped toilet paper to reduce plastic waste.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • 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.

  • How I Built This · 43m

    Making garbage useful with Tom Szaky of TerraCycle

    Tom Szaky, co-founder and CEO of TerraCycle, recounts his journey from a Princeton dorm room to building a multimillion-dollar recycling enterprise. He details the early pivot from selling worm poop fertilizer in reused soda bottles to solving the broader waste crisis by partnering with brands like Stonyfield and Clif Bar to collect non-recyclable packaging. Szaky explains the economics of voluntary funding for waste management and introduces Loop, TerraCycle’s reusable packaging initiative, which aims to make traditional recycling obsolete by enabling infinite reuse of containers from brands like Tide and Häagen-Dazs.

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 41m

    Founder Feature: Zoe Levin of Bim Bam Boo

    Zoe Levin, founder and CEO of Bim Bam Boo, discusses building a tree-free paper company from the ground up, leveraging her family's history in the industry to avoid past pitfalls. She details the strategic pivot from a niche vulva-health messaging to a broader sustainability and convenience-focused brand, which enabled expansion into major retailers like Whole Foods and Target. Levin also shares insights on product innovation, specifically designing packaging with handles and cup-holder-friendly formats to solve consumer pain points, and her approach to bootstrapping before securing growth capital.

  • How I Built This · 28m

    HIBT Lab! UNLESS Collective: Eric Liedtke

    Eric Liedtke, former Global Brand President at Adidas, explains his transition from revitalizing a major sportswear brand to founding UNLESS Collective, a startup creating 100% plant-based, biodegradable apparel. He details the environmental failures of the fashion industry, specifically the persistence of plastic waste and the limitations of recycling, which drove his decision to leave Adidas. Liedtke discusses the technical challenges of sourcing non-plastic materials, such as cellulose-based threads and water-based inks, and the supply chain complexities of manufacturing in the US and Portugal while maintaining a zero-waste ethos.

  • How I Built This · 1h 06m

    S'well: Sarah Kauss

    Sarah Kauss, founder of S'well, explains how she launched a $100 million reusable water bottle company in 2010 by combining industrial design with a social mission to eliminate plastic waste. She details her bootstrapped journey, from designing the bottle in PowerPoint and manufacturing 3,000 units in China to securing early retail placements with Crate and Barrel and a breakthrough feature in O, The Oprah Magazine. Kauss also discusses the critical decision to remain 100% owner-controlled, the strategic use of TED conference sponsorships for influencer marketing, and the legal battles against counterfeiters who copied her logo and design.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by People of Packaging. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.