# 088: The Importance of Sustainable Product Manufacturing

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2021-08-11
- Length: 27m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-08-11-088-the-importance-of-sustainable-product-manufacturing
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/

## Summary

Jacob Rothman, CEO of Platform88 and Velong Industries, explains how startups can integrate sustainability into their first production runs in Asia. He details the shift in buyer expectations at major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Metro, who now prioritize sustainable materials such as ocean plastic, algae, and recycled stainless steel. Rothman emphasizes that sustainability must be considered from the ideation stage, covering not just materials but also manufacturing processes and community impact, such as building schools in Cambodia.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-08-11-088-the-importance-of-sustainable-product-manufacturing#t=0) Introduction: Jacob Rothman and Platform88
- [1:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-08-11-088-the-importance-of-sustainable-product-manufacturing#t=91) Rothman's Background and Velong Industries Growth
- [4:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-08-11-088-the-importance-of-sustainable-product-manufacturing#t=271) Retailer Demand for Sustainable Manufacturing
- [9:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-08-11-088-the-importance-of-sustainable-product-manufacturing#t=567) Sustainable Materials: Ocean Plastic, Algae, and Recycled Steel
- [12:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-08-11-088-the-importance-of-sustainable-product-manufacturing#t=758) Community Impact and Factory Operations in Cambodia
- [17:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-08-11-088-the-importance-of-sustainable-product-manufacturing#t=1050) Specific Material Innovations and Certification
- [21:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-08-11-088-the-importance-of-sustainable-product-manufacturing#t=1274) Pricing, Margins, and Business Case for Sustainability
- [24:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-08-11-088-the-importance-of-sustainable-product-manufacturing#t=1495) Platform88's Role in Helping Startups Scale

## Topics

- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Platform88 (company)
- Velong Industries (company)
- Walmart (company)
- Target (company)
- Metro (company)
- Woolies (company)
- HP (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Starbucks (company)
- Costa Coffee (company)
- Haiti (company)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [103 - Sustainable Shipping Packaging with Saloni Doshi, CEO of Ecoenclose](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2022-02-01-103-sustainable-shipping-packaging-with-saloni-doshi-ceo-of-ecoenclose) (People of Packaging)
- [Herschel Supply Co.: Jamie and Lyndon Cormack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-10-16-herschel-supply-co-jamie-and-lyndon-cormack) (How I Built This)
- [Aligning Sustainability and Profitability in Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-10-18-aligning-sustainability-and-profitability-in-manufacturing) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [How Sustainable American Manufacturing Can Flourish at Scale](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-02-08-how-sustainable-american-manufacturing-can-flourish-at-scale) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [145 - Sustainable Packaging with MJ Werlein from Adept Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2022-08-09-145-sustainable-packaging-with-mj-werlein-from-adept-packaging) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

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