In this inspiring and thought-provoking episode, host LaurenLewis sits down with Tom Akers — founder of Renew Bath + Body and Junk Free Skin — for a raw and insightful discussion on the real Pain Points behind sustainability, innovation, and scaling a purpose-driven business.
After leaving the fast-food world (yes, he once ownedmultiple Taco Bell and KFC locations), Tom found himself at a crossroads. With a passion for clean skincare and a desire to do something meaningful, he opened Renew Bath + Body in Buffalo, NY. What started as a storefront soon evolvedinto a full-blown manufacturing operation creating water soluble, zero-waste personal care pods designed to eliminate plastic waste.
We cover:
- The personal Pain Points that sparked a skincare revolution
- The staggering truth: by 2050, there may be more plastic in the ocean than sea life
- How Renew Bath + Body’s pod-based hand soap and body wash is disrupting outdated models
- Innovating through failure — and how persistence (and donuts) won over international partners
- The challenge of educating consumers and creating behavior change
- Landing top-shelf placement at Wegmans and scaling manufacturing operations in Buffalo
- Why compostable packaging and refillable dispensers matter more than ever
- The future of sustainable production and how manufacturing consultants and strategy Shift are helping them scale effectively
If you care about clean products, plastic-free living, andgame-changing innovation from passionate founders, this episode is a must-watch.
Explore Products: https://www.renewbathandbody.com
Learn More: https://www.jfskin.com
Follow Renew Bath + Body’s journey:
https://www.instagram.com/renewbathandbody
Connect with Tom Akers: Tom Akers | LinkedIn
📍 Based in WNY? Find Renew Bath + Body's products in 100+ Wegmans locations!
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