Show Notes:
In this episode of the Beyond Beauty Podcast, the host engages with Kat Dey, co-founder and president of ettitude, a materials science company focused on sustainable textiles. They discuss ettitude's innovative use of bamboo as an eco-friendly alternative to cotton, highlighting its rapid growth, minimal water usage, and non-toxic processing methods. Kat shares insights into the environmental impact of traditional textiles, the benefits of bamboo, and the company's efforts to educate consumers about sustainability. The episode also explores ettitude's future plans, including expanding product lines and promoting sustainable practices across the textile industry.
About Kat:
Kat Dey is a serial entrepreneur and executive, named one of “35 People to Watch”. She is Co-Founder & President of ettitude, an award-winning material science company with the mission to dramatically reduce the harmful environmental impact of textiles.
With its proprietary technologies, ettitude offers sustainable bedding, bath essentials, apparel, and a variety of textiles made with CleanBamboo® . The manufacturing process is a clean alternative to the highly polluting cotton, viscose, silk, and cashmere.
It’s also worth mentioning that ettitude is Climate Neutral certified and a B Corp.
Prior to ettitude, Kat had a decade of experience scaling mission-driven companies. Her prior company was named by Crains NY as the #3 fastest-growing company in New York before it was acquired in 2017. Today Dey also serves as an advisor and investor in several early-stage companies.
Kat and her companies have appeared in Fortune, Forbes, WSJ, LA Times, Today, FOX, BBC and more.
To connect with her, visit: ettitude.com
Timestamps:
Kat Dey's Background (00:01:10)
Discussion of Kat's experience and the mission of ettitude in sustainable textiles.
Inception Story of ettitude (00:02:14)
Kat shares how she joined ettitude and her passion for sustainability in material science.
Bamboo vs. Cotton (00:04:01)
Exploration of bamboo's advantages over cotton in terms of sustainability and comfort.
Sustainability of Bamboo (00:05:14)
Details on bamboo's fast growth and minimal resource requirements compared to cotton.
Processing Bamboo (00:08:06)
Explanation of non-toxic methods used to process bamboo into fabric, avoiding harmful chemicals.
Supply Chain and Production (00:10:07)
Insights into sourcing bamboo and ensuring sustainable production processes.
Educating Consumers (00:13:17)
Strategies for informing consumers about the benefits of clean bamboo textiles.
Product Applications (00:15:27)
Discussion on the versatility of bamboo textiles beyond bed sheets, including vegan cashmere.
Durability and Care (00:20:35)
Comparison of bamboo fabric durability to cotton, emphasizing care recommendations.
Climate Resilience of Bamboo (00:22:21)
Discussion on bamboo's ability to grow in various climates and restore degraded lands.
Bamboo Growth and Root Systems (00:22:54)
Discussion on bamboo's underground root system and its implications for large-scale crop management.
Organic Bamboo Farming (00:23:09)
Kat explains their partnership with an organic farm dedicated to growing bamboo, highlighting its species diversity.
Alpha Cellulose Production (00:23:21)
Insights into the native bamboo species used for producing alpha cellulose for fabric fibers.
Bamboo's Invasive Nature (00:23:52)
Kat discusses bamboo's rapid growth and invasive tendencies when planted in non-controlled environments.
ettitude's Online Presence (00:24:46)
Information on where to find ettitude's products, including a special discount code for listeners.
Sustainable Packaging Challenges (00:25:47)
Discussion on the current state of beauty product packaging and the need for sustainable alternatives.
Reusing Packaging Materials (00:27:12)
Kat explains how ettitude repurposes fabric offcuts for packaging, promoting sustainability and reusability.
