Julia Marsh

Seaweeds as Viable Solution to Single-Use Plastic Dilemma

04 November 2024 Share

I feel oftentimes sustainable products and businesses are sidelined as an afterthought or a category, but it's the way that all business should be done. All business should be regenerative. All business should be circular, because it just makes sense.

In this episode, host John Kudos dives into the fascinating world of sustainable design with Julia Marsh, the CEO and Co-founder of Sway, a company making waves in material innovation.

From her beginnings as a design student with a passion for circular materials, Julia shares how she developed a solution to plastic waste using an unlikely resource: seaweed. They discuss Julia’s journey from a graduate thesis to founding Sway, the pivotal moments that shaped her path, and her research trip to Bali and building a team driven by purpose. Discover how seaweed is not only replacing plastic but also supporting ecosystems and coastal communities.

  • Introduction
  • Discovering Seaweed as a Plastic Alternative
  • Studying at SVA & Building a Business from Design
  • Finding Mentors & Early Influences
  • The Plastic Crisis & Deciding to Take Action
  • Co-Founders & Starting the Business
  • Research Trip to Indonesia & Seaweed Farming
  • Prototyping in a Garage & Winning Funding
  • Scaling Up & Industry Interest
  • The Power of Community & Design-Driven Branding
  • What's Next for Sway?

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