What if your student club project became a company fighting the plastic crisis?
That’s the path Nuha Siddiqui took—spinning a University of Toronto Enactus idea (eco‑packers) into erthos, a sustainable materials venture focused on plastic alternatives and packaging that can actually work in real supply chains.
In this episode, Nuha walks through the founder journey—from campus labs to global stages—and the community that made the leap possible.
We cover:
- Origin story: Enactus U of T, leveraging school resources, mentors, and community
- eco‑packers → erthos: why the rebrand mattered for vision and scale
- Finding the team & co‑founder fit: programs and networks that opened doors
- Fundraising reality: rejections, resilience, and closing her seed round on her wedding day
- Showing up globally: learning and lobbying at the world’s largest sustainability conferences
- Life behind the headlines: balancing family & friendships while building in your early 20s
- Why this matters now: the climate and plastic crisis, and what emerging research on plastics & human health means for consumers and brands
Nuha’s work has been recognized by Forbes, The Globe & Mail, New York Weekly, and GreenBiz—but this conversation focuses on the grit it took to get there.
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Chapters:00:00 The Journey Begins: From Idea to Business02:45 Building Earthos: The Evolution of a Sustainable Company05:49 Navigating Family Expectations and Entrepreneurial Risks08:37 Scaling Challenges: Moving to Asia and Finding Manufacturing Partners11:51 Overcoming Age and Gender Barriers in Entrepreneurship14:46 The Reality of Sacrifices in the Entrepreneurial Journey17:49 Advocating for Change: The Role of Policy in Sustainability20:53 Celebrating Milestones: Personal and Professional Achievements23:43 The Future of Earthos: Innovations and Industry Impact27:02 Reflections: Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
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