EarthUP CEO Stephen Bay is joined by Nic Collins and David "Dizzy" Gillespie in this episode of People. Planet. Profit. A Podcast. The co-founders of sustainable office supplies startup, Switch, the pair discuss the challenges of launching a business and why it is so important that both consumers and producers consider the full lifecycle of products as we reevaluate our relationship with everyday objects.
Hailing from South Africa, Nic Collins has had an insatiable curiosity that led him around the world seeking adventures, challenges, new languages, and unusual experiences. With a background in industrial design, Nic found his way into a marketing role, and as an executive creative director, now manages a team of 25. He spends much of his time crafting marketing stories, designing retail stores and experiences, and tying strategy and design together. Together with Dizzy, they are tackling the challenge of waste by designing products that consider the entirety of the life cycle, starting with ways the traditional office can make the Switch.
Originally from Australia, Dizzy spent time in Hong Kong and the U.S. during his childhood, and uses the experience of different cultures, people and places to inspire his work and lifestyle. Currently a resident of New York, Dizzy began his career making video games before moving into startups, marketing and consulting. He thrives working in small teams of smart, creative people tasked with solving problems for which there is no easy solution. The love of this kind of work led Dizzy and Nic to a project that eventually became Switch.
Switch Overview: Switch was born out of a desire to make work better, for the people doing it, and the planet they’re doing it on. We want to switch relationships with everyday objects, and in the process raise the expectations you have for them, and for the companies who produce them. We believe every company has a responsibility for the entire lifecycle of a product, and we believe they’re accountable for ensuring as little as possible winds up back in the earth.
Switch products are functional and exceptionally well-designed. More than this they are priced affordably and created in a manner that will keep them out of landfills once they come to the end of their life. We believe this circular approach to design will change the way our customers relate to every day items, and we want Switch to be a model for how everyone can do better and expect more from the objects in our lives.
We’re starting with a small change that we hope will make a big impact. After all, we can’t switch planets. So let’s Switch everything else.
Checkout Switch: switcheverything.com
Our EarthUP platform is now live! Become an early adopter and start making change at app.earthup.eco.
Nic and Dizzy's Book Recommendations from This Episode:
To learn more about EarthUP's journey to launching our platform that helps companies and communities simplify sustainability, visit earthup.eco
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Want to be our partner? Have show ideas for us? Email mara@earthup.eco
People. Planet. Profit. A Podcast is hosted by Stephen Bay, and produced and edited by Mara Mote.