# 131: Why Doing Good with Your Hardware Product Matters

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2022-07-06
- Length: 28m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-07-06-131-why-doing-good-with-your-hardware-product-matters
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/

## Summary

Jos Harrison, Global Head of Design and Brand Experience at Reckitt, explains how hardware startups can integrate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles to build brand trust and longevity. He argues that startups have an advantage in solving core problems and should focus on high-quality, durable products with iterative design platforms rather than low-cost disposables. Harrison details how material swaps, recyclable packaging, and refillable models allow small businesses to demonstrate sustainability early, appealing to sophisticated consumers willing to pay for long-term value.

## Chapters

- [0:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-07-06-131-why-doing-good-with-your-hardware-product-matters#t=47) Introduction: Jos Harrison and Reckitt's Brand Portfolio
- [4:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-07-06-131-why-doing-good-with-your-hardware-product-matters#t=260) Defining ESG: Environmental, Social, and Governance for Startups
- [13:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-07-06-131-why-doing-good-with-your-hardware-product-matters#t=786) Low-Hanging Fruit: Material Swaps and Sustainable Design
- [16:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-07-06-131-why-doing-good-with-your-hardware-product-matters#t=972) Iterative Design Platforms and Refillable Models
- [19:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-07-06-131-why-doing-good-with-your-hardware-product-matters#t=1186) Consumer Willingness to Pay for Durability and Trust
- [23:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-07-06-131-why-doing-good-with-your-hardware-product-matters#t=1418) Startup Advantage: Solving Core Problems with High Quality

## Topics

- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Reckitt (company)
- Lysol (product)
- Durex (product)
- Finish (product)
- Airwick (product)
- Dettol (product)
- Mucex (product)
- Delsym (product)
- Queen V (product)
- K-Y (product)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [100: Embodied Energy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2023-07-02-100-embodied-energy) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Taming the Dragons whilst Saving the Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-01-taming-the-dragons-whilst-saving-the-planet) (It's Only a Prototype)
- [50: Putting All Your Eggs in the Launch Basket](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2019-04-22-50-putting-all-your-eggs-in-the-launch-basket) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [IDology #10 - The difficulties of sustainability of industrial design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2023-03-14-idology-10-the-difficulties-of-sustainability-of-industrial-design) (IDology)
- [76: Tom’s Future Corner](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-01-12-76-toms-future-corner) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-07-06-131-why-doing-good-with-your-hardware-product-matters. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Product Startup.