Send us a text

On this episode of The Sustainable Business Spotlight, I sit down with Jestine, founder of Sustainable Classrooms, a Montana-based nonprofit, turning plastic waste into building blocks for education in Togo, West Africa. We talk about tackling plastic pollution, working across cultures, and building classrooms with locally sourced materials, all while creating jobs and improving student access to food and healthcare.

Jestine shares how a post-college trip turned into a mission to build more than just infrastructure. With a small but mighty team on the ground and a growing community of supporters, she’s proving that one idea, and one brick at a time, can make a global impact.

Whether you're working on your own eco-startup or looking for inspiration to take action, this episode highlights how grassroots solutions can drive sustainable change.

In this episode:
01:33 – How a trip to Southeast Asia and Africa sparked the idea
03:54 – Living in Togo and building trust with the local community
06:34 – Turning shredded plastic into bricks for classrooms
09:05 – Connecting with students through language and shared experience
13:50 – How power outages are shaping their shift to solar energy
16:57 – Supporting students with school lunches and health programs
19:36 – Ways to support Sustainable Classrooms and follow their journey

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend who cares about sustainability!

Links:
Website: https://www.sustainableclassrooms.eco/
Instagram: @sustainable_classrooms
Facebook: Sustainable Classrooms
LinkedIn: Sustainable Classrooms
TikTok: @sustainable_classrooms
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClIUFEMKEkIa5C5kHKyK-pQ

Amy's Links:
• Website
• Alpine Start Media's Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Jelt's Instagram

Send us a text

On this episode of The Sustainable Business Spotlight, I sit down with Taylor Dubose, founder of SUS, a Massachusetts-based gear company making backpacks, hats, and accessories from recycled plastic and repurposed gear. We talk about rejecting fast fashion, designing for repairability, and the logistics behind collecting waste and turning it into durable products, all without selling on Amazon.

Taylor shares how his background in product development shaped the way he approaches sustainability. From old tents and climbing rope, to water bottles that never got recycled, he’s closing the loop through local sourcing, smart design, and full transparency on material use.

Whether you're building your own eco-friendly small business or trying to improve your sustainable supply chain, this episode offers practical insight into making products that truly last.

In this episode:

• 01:40 – How the pandemic sparked Taylor’s idea for SUS
• 06:49 – The Reality Collection: bags made from used tarps and tents
• 09:12 – Logistics of local collection and manufacturing
• 11:13 – Why SUS lists the number of plastic bottles in each product
• 14:47 – New product line made from retired climbing rope
• 19:53 – What consumers should really know about recycling

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend who cares about sustainability.

Links:
https://susmade.com/
https://www.instagram.com/sus_made/

Amy's Links:
• Website
• Alpine Start Media's Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Jelt's Instagram

Send us a text

Welcome back to The Sustainable Business Spotlight! In this episode, I’m joined by Deirdre Bird, founder of Dry Umbrellas, a company reimagining a frustrating everyday product with sustainability in mind. After one too many cheap umbrellas flipped inside out on the streets of Boston, Deirdre decided to take action.

The result? A line of high-quality, ocean-bound plastic umbrellas that are as durable as they are impactful.

We talk through her unexpected journey into entrepreneurship, the realities of building a sustainable supply chain, and how one product can shift the way people think about consumption. If you’ve ever been frustrated with a broken umbrella or questioned the long-term impact of single-use materials, tune in! Deirdre’s passion for the planet is contagious and her umbrellas are making waves (pun intended!)

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• 02:33 – The “aha” moment that turned Deirdre from commuter to founder of Dry Umbrellas.
• 05:52 – What makes building a sustainable supply chain difficult, but worth it.
• 07:40 – The keys to launching a successful Kickstarter campaign (and what Deirdre wishes she’d done).
• 13:41 – Why ocean-bound plastic matters and why bamboo and steel were deliberate choices.
• 19:17 – How Dry Umbrellas made it onto shelves at REI (and why in-person product feel matters).
• 22:35 – Exciting news: compact umbrellas are coming, just in time for the holidays!

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share it with someone who values planet-first products!

Links:
Enter the Giveaway here! https://jeltbelt.com/pages/sustainable-giveaway

Website: https://www.dri.earth/

Instagram: @dri_umbrellas

Amy's Links:
• Website
• Alpine Start Media's Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Jelt's Instagram