The amount of plastic produced in a year is roughly the same as the entire weight of humanity. EarthDay.org reported that humans use about 1.2 million plastic bottles per minute in total.  Approximately 91% of plastic is not recycled.  Everyone is aware that we need to use less plastic every day and new founders have the opportunity to lead the way on this. 

So for this episode, I wanted to speak to a proven expert on how to solve the packaging problem.  Joanna Jensen founded the children’s toiletries brand Childs Farm as she was determined to help soothe her daughters’ painful eczema, so formulated a collection of natural products packed with essential oils to care for children’s sensitive skin. Childs Farm has been certified as a B Corp and ​​became the number one brand in the baby and child segment in 2019. 

Having been a sustainability advocate throughout her life, Joanna shares what investors now expect from businesses on sustainability, how to build it in from the beginning and why packaging doesn’t have to be the hardest part to solve.

Joanna’s advice: 

• Investors care about sustainability and expect it
• Don’t pay the plastic tax: just don’t use plastic. If you have to, it must be recycled
• If you set your standards high, and care about ESG (Environment, Sustainability, Governance), you will attract quality people who share those standards
• If your product falls short in its packaging, attempt to improve and be honest and open about your attempts to do so
• Shareholders, just like investors, will appreciate high standards in this area
• Push back on suppliers because your whole supply chain should be in line with your standards
• Talk to other founders to get advice; learn, ask and be curious
• Surround yourself with like-minded people who will be honest with you
• Communication is a vital asset in any business; if this is not your strength employ someone to support you in this

Click here to find out more about Prevented Ocean Plastics.
 
If you'd like to contact Joanna you can reach via Instagram @childsfarm @joannajensenofficial or via [email protected]

FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. 

Email us at [email protected] or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason. 

MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Licence

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