Plant-powered Replacements for Traditional Plastic— Nuha Siddiqui, CEO of Erthos
Led by Nuha Siddiqui erthos is developing a compostable plant-based resin to substitute to serve as a drop-in replacement for petroleum-derived products in the manufacturing of single-use plastics.
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What is erthos, what do you do, why now, and what makes you unique?
erthos is our take on the combination of earth and ethos. We are creating plant-powered alternatives for traditional plastic inputs. We aim to make these substitutes both compatible with existing infrastructure and compostable at end of life. Our product replaces polystyrene and polypropylene in single-use applications such as cutlery. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel, but we are trying to make it more sustainable.
What is your approach to the existing plastics industry and supply chain? Is erthos attempting to go vertical in the production of sustainable plastics, or rather be the sustainable supplier of choice for the existing industry?
Half of the plastic used in the world is single-use. We aim to create a sustainable drop-in alternative for these applications. We work with manufacturers directly and with companies who source inputs for these applications. We want to integrate within the existing supply chain.
Can you talk more about the sourcing of your material?
We are using material sourced from traditional agriculture in a proprietary mix. This mix varies slightly by the area of the world we are located in, as we try to source agricultural material locally.
What are the impediments to the adoption of sustainable inputs for plastic manufacturers?
Traditionally the problem with sustainable alternatives has been the difficulty of integrating them with existing infrastructure and with the right end-use application. As a consequence, sustainable materials have often been blended with less sustainable formulations that then reduce the compostability at end of life. Sustainable alternatives have been relatively unattractive for manufacturers. Our primary objective is to reduce these frictions by focusing on a formulation that ensures drop-in use without the need for blending, which ultimately preserves the compostability.
Can you speak to the difference between biodegradability vs. compostability?
Biodegradable materials are not always compostable, but compostable materials are always biodegradable. When a product biodegrades, it simply breaks into smaller pieces. When a product is composted, it provides nutrients and useful material back to the soil and ecosystem.
Where are your products composted?
We have designed our material to be compatible with both home and industrial compostability.
What does the erthos team look like?
We have a diverse team with backgrounds in chemical engineering, environmentalism, and economics. It is this diversity that has been crucial to reimagining the future of sustainable plastics.
Who are your customers and what do your products look like?
We are working with large established manufacturers and aiming to launch our product next year. The end-use applications include bottle caps, food casing, and cutlery.
What do you think about the cost of the final good?
We are very focused on scaling our production to reduce our product cost to be competitive with traditional resins.
What has your funding looked like as the company has continued to grow?
As young graduates and researchers, we initially bootstrapped the company. After participating in several startup accelerator programs in Canada, we were able to raise a $4.3M seed round from global venture capitalists and a non-dilutive $2.9M funding round from Sustainable Development Canada.
What is your background before erthos?
I started erthos while I was a student at the University of Toronto. I initially studied accounting but quickly realized that I was more interested in impact-driven organizations and environmental economics. Through an iterative process of problem identification and solution ideation, I became interested in sustainability and the climate space in particular. It became clear to me that plastics remain an impediment to a sustainable future. Through a research project with my cofounders Chang and Kritika, we decided to start the company after graduation. Today we have a team of 22 employees with operations in Canada and China.
Flashing forward 10 years, what do you hope erthos has catalyzed?
Our mission is to make plant-based plastics the norm. We believe that we are at the beginning of an evolution in which these material types will become scalable and globally recognized as the right solution to sustainability concerns in the materials space.
Are there habits that keep you focused or motivated as you grow erthos?
Learning has always been the most important element of my personal development. One critical aspect of that has been active reflection through reading and journaling. These practices have been critical in reminding me of my purpose and source of motivation as well as continuing to develop as a leader and CEO.
Do you have a book recommendation?
I recently read Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt and found it to be an insightful read. The book provides a structured reflection framework that facilitates more achievement with less effort. Hyatt provides clarity and emphasizes the importance of focus by reminding readers of the areas of their life in which they have the most proficiency and passion.
Do you have any podcast recommendations?
One podcast that I enjoy is How to Save a Planet, which does a great job of breaking down complex problems into relatable and tangible solution sets.
Any quotes that have resonated with you?
“Leadership is not necessarily being the loudest voice in the room.” I think this quote broadly speaks to our approach at erthos of driving the evolution of material science towards sustainability with drop-in solutions rather than necessarily trying to disrupt a whole industry.
How can listeners support your mission?
On a personal level, I think it is important to be mindful of the plastics in your daily life. I would also welcome listeners to follow our journey as we aim to launch our first product. We are always looking for partners and collaborators in the space whether you are a brand, or a manufacturer, or someone who is just passionate about plastics and sustainable materials in general.
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THE TORCH is an interview series from Entrepreneurs for Impact. We profile CEOs and investors mitigating climate change. Our goal is to highlight their work and inspire others. As we deal with multiple crisis, from Covid and racial injustice to climate change and economic recession, we need some of this positive light in what seem like dark times. Onward and upward.