Westchester Innovation Network Helps EarthSuds Begin First U.S. Product Test

The Business Council of Westchester’s Westchester Innovation Network (BCW WIN) is helping to reduce plastic waste in the hospitality sector by matching a bottle-free soap company with a local hotel.

The BCW WIN has paired EarthSuds, a marketer of body wash, shampoo, and conditioner tablets, with the Cambria Suites in White Plains and the Royal Regency Hotel in Yonkers to assess its plastic-bottle free tablets with the hotel’s guests. The tablets resemble sugar cubes and hotel guests can activate them by adding water.

“Liquid shampoo is about 90% water, so it’s heavy to ship and it produces high carbon emissions,” said EarthSuds founder and CEO Daniel Moll. “Despite recycling initiatives, most single-use bottles are not recyclable due to contamination from leftover liquids and general poor plastic quality. These bottles just break down into microplastics that can contaminate food, air, water, and even our bodies.”

In early September Moll visited Westchester County to begin his test with the Cambria Suites and Royal Regency Hotel, and to visit other hotels bearing samples.

“It’s a great idea. A lot of our guests are environmentally conscious,” said Sean Meade, the Cambria Suites’ general manager. “It gives our guests different options. Back in the day we used to use single small plastic bottles. We moved away from that and went to communal amenity dispensers, and this is the next step.”

The Canada-based company’s pilot with the two Westchester hotels is its first product test in the United States.

“The BCW WIN program has been extremely helpful. I would never have met Sean without their connection. I’m also grateful for Sean’s support for taking a chance on this,” said Moll.

The BCW WIN’s pairing of EarthSuds with the two hotels is part of a continuing effort to establish Westchester County as a hub for innovation and economic development that attracts entrepreneurs like Moll.

“We are committed to helping New York achieve its environmental goals while finding new solutions to the challenges facing businesses and our society,” said BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon. “I look forward to learning how our local hotels will be able to reduce their carbon footprints with help from innovators like EarthSuds.”

Can Your Business Benefit from BCW WIN?

The Business Council of Westchester is committed to helping entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life through the support of its diverse business ecosystem in Westchester County through its BCW WIN initiative. Its network is composed of small and mid-sized companies, professional services firms, and non-profits along with several of the best-known brands in the world like IBM, Pepsico, MasterCard, Heineken, Danone, Morgan Stanley, and Regeneron. It also includes some of the largest hospitals and healthcare systems in the world and many colleges and universities.

To learn more about becoming an Innovation Partner or joining the BCW WIN program, visit https://thebcw.org/westchester-innovation-network/.