[ad_1]
AUSTIN, Texas – An Austin family takes what would have been wasted to a whole new level, and it’s about as much of Texas as possible.
What you need to know
- According to the EPA, only 25% of glass is recycled in the US.
- Neutrall’s entire supply chain is climate neutral.
- Neutrall has no physical stores.
For most parents, children are their inspiration. Sarah Mitchell and Ernesto Humpierres said their two boys gave them the idea of starting their own business.
“If [glass cup] broken, I couldn’t replace it, ”said Mitchell.
That’s how broken glass became a business opportunity, and that’s how Neutrall was born.
“We use them every day,” she says. “And the kids love them.”
I am a solution to a global problem. In the US, only 25% of glass is recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
“Materials that would otherwise end up in landfills and are now saved and used sensibly,” said Humpierres.
Apart from the upcycling of used glass, Neutrall’s entire supply chain is climate neutral, hence the name. Humpierres said that every purchase of neutral glassware includes an additional offset of carbon dioxide, which is the main driver behind the climate crisis.
“And it’s actually very practical and elegant,” he said.
The couple collect discarded glass from nearby bars, such as Topo Chico bottles.
“We’re excited about this opportunity to not only change that perspective, but also provide a way to upcycling this supposed waste when it’s fully and perfectly usable,” said Mitchell.
A small family business in Montgomery, Texas makes the glassware, and the packaging design is done by an Austin artist.
“It’s quite a unboxing experience,” said Humpierres.
The entire box is zero waste, including the cornstarch insulation. Neutrall also has no physical stores, which is easy on the planet and your wallet. Humpierres says sustainability is just a smart business.
“Because you save all that footprint,” he said.
For Mitchell it is also a passion project and her job. She works in the field of landscape protection and ecological restoration.
“So we hope the profits will eventually fund the land restoration, and that’s what I’m looking forward to most,” she said.
The hope is that once the company grows, the company will invest in carbon projects in Austin rather than buying into an offset fund. Currently, the couple are experimenting with making another line of glassware with upcycled wine bottles that they expect to be the next product on the market.
[ad_2]
