The lack of transparency in the manufacturing industry is alarming, and today, we are joined by someone who is actively working to advance chemical transparency throughout the global supply chain. Pete Girard is the Co-Founder and CEO of Toxnot and, in this episode, he shares the ultimate goal of his software company to materially change the way the world’s supply chains are managed, for both sustainability and health. We discuss the importance of understanding what products are made of and what consumers can do to make a difference. Pete fills us in on a whole world of hidden toxins and the danger of bioaccumulation and predicts the future of transparency mandates. Tune in to hear more about the noble pursuit of Toxnot, greenwashing in the outdoor industry (and beyond), our tendency to over-index on packaging rather than products, and so much more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing the Co-Founder and CEO of Toxnot, Pete Girard.
• What prompted the creation of Toxnot and the problem it strives to solve.
• The hidden toxins contained in various materials.
• Why it’s important to understand what products are made of.
• How to gauge a company’s commitment to understanding what’s in their product.
• Customer demand versus company intentionality.
• The solution presented by Toxnot.
• Pete’s prediction of transparency mandates going forward.
• Toxnot’s ultimate goal of success.
• How to encourage the supply chain to participate in sustainability.
• What the Toxnot exchange is and the purpose it serves.
• How the pandemic has impacted the world of sustainable supply chains.
• Who Toxnot generally works with, within a company.
• To what extent the outdoor industry greenwashes.
• Pete’s wish for the evolution of the outdoor industry.
• The danger of fluorinated substances.
• The tendency for customers to over-index on packaging rather than the product itself.
• Biocircularity versus recycling.
• Pete’s hopes and concerns for the next ten years.
• Pete’s hero, book recommendation, suggestion for EREM, and favorite memory of the desert.
• Pete’s call to action!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Pete Girard on LinkedIn

Toxnot

Compass and Gyroscope

EREM

EREM on Instagram