Eliminating Single Use Packaging, Economically (with Lindsey Hoell @ Dispatch Goods)

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Disclaimer: For full disclosure, Dispatch Goods is a portfolio company at Climate Capital Climate Capital where Kirthika Padmanabhan works as a Principal.

CC Pod is not investment advice and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any investment decision.

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For this week's CC Pod episode, Kirthika Padmanabhan chats with Lindsey Hoell, Founder and CEO of Dispatch Goods, about how they’re cutting costs and boosting brands with sustainable, returnable packaging.

Lindsey's path to entrepreneurship is anything but conventional. With a background as a perfusionist—where she operated heart-lung machines during open-heart surgeries—Lindsey transitioned to the world of sustainability after witnessing firsthand the environmental challenges in Hawaii. Her involvement with the Surfrider Foundation and the launch of the Ocean Friendly Restaurants program ignited her passion for sustainability, leading her to identify a critical gap in the market: the need for effective circular packaging systems.

Recognizing the limitations of traditional waste management practices, Lindsey envisioned a new infrastructure that businesses could leverage to shift from linear, wasteful practices to sustainable, circular solutions. This vision culminated in the founding of Dispatch Goods.

Dispatch Goods operates in a sector where single-use packaging is rampant. In the U.S. alone, approximately one trillion single-use food service packaging units are consumed each year, with the vast majority ending up in landfills or incinerated. Lindsey highlighted the staggering statistic of 15 million gel packs being manufactured daily for meal and grocery deliveries, most of which contribute to environmental pollution.

The mission of Dispatch Goods is clear: to create the circular supply chains of the future by focusing on reuse. The company has developed a three-pronged approach that includes:

* Durable Packaging: Dispatch Goods engineers packaging that is both cost-effective and durable, ensuring it can withstand multiple uses.

* Cleaning Facilities: The company has established cleaning facilities where used packaging is sanitized and prepared for reuse, ensuring safety and quality.

* Circular Logistics: By partnering with a network of delivery services, Dispatch Goods manages the logistics of collecting used packaging and distributing clean, reusable items back to businesses.

Since its inception, Dispatch Goods has made significant strides in reducing waste. The company has successfully diverted over 8 million items from landfills, with a recent milestone of achieving its first million-item quarter. This impressive growth underscores the potential for circular solutions to not only benefit the environment but also provide cost savings for businesses.

Looking ahead, Dispatch Goods aims to expand its infrastructure and technology. Lindsey shared insights into the development of a custom software platform that enhances warehouse management, labor planning, and inventory tracking. The company is also exploring advancements in automation and computer vision to streamline operations further.

Dispatch Goods is at the forefront of transforming how businesses approach packaging and waste management. Tune in to the full episode for more insights from Lindsey and learn how you can get involved.

To learn more about Dispatch Goods, visit https://dispatchgoods.com/.

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