Ross Ching, Mama’s and Hapa’s: Destroying the notion that ecofriendly has to be expensive

11/02/21 • 33 min

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Ross Ching, founder of Mama & Hapa’s Zero Waste Shop in Portland, Oregon.

Ross moved to Portland with his family in 2019 after working as a TV commercial director. He was inspired to start a zero waste shop after watching the news and hearing terrible things about climate change.

“In the past three or four or five years, there's been more and more reporting about how recycling isn't what we all thought it would be. Recycling back in the ‘90s was supposed to be our savior, and we can use as much plastic as we want. We can throw any sort of plastic in the bin and it'll get turned into a park bench. Fast forward 20 years and we have come to the realization that wasn't the case. We need to stop plastic usage at the root of it, and that's at the cash register.”

Ross explained how the zero waste movement has been gaining steam. He wanted to develop a shop that made the zero waste movement easier for everyday people to join.

“There's a large segment of the population who really want to help the environment, but they also don't want to be inconvenienced. That’s what we are trying to aim as a target market.”

Mama & Hapa’s is touch free, using an RFID smart card for payment. Ross is determined to create a business that allows people to reduce their waste at a low price point.

Zero waste goes beyond saving plastic. It makes people conscious of all the steps that go into a product from cradle to grave.

“If you think about your laundry detergent, you take it home and then forget about it, right? But there was a bunch of oil that had to be drilled and then they had to take that to a factory and refine it. And then they took that to a factory to make pellets of plastic. And then they had to mold the plastic. And then they had to fill it with the stuff that goes inside of it. And the stuff that goes inside it came from somewhere. Then it has to get driven to Target and then you have to drive to Target and then you get the bottle, drive back home, and it's this huge process that encompasses the entire globe.”

Mama & Hapa’s has 41 dispensers of household products. Ross’ hope is to have a zero waste shop in every neighborhood so people do not have to drive to get there. He’d also like their prices to continue to fall so people will realize they can live a zero waste lifestyle without spending more money.

Check out Mama & Hapa’s website, and if you’re in Portland, pay them a visit!

Next week on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast, I interview I interview Paula Dunn, who was born with a cleft lip and palate like me.

The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform.

Marie Gettel-Gilmartin, founder and principal of Fertile Ground Communications LLC, is a writer and marketing communications consultant who loves to take the pain and stress out of writing for her clients. She specializes in making the complex clear, using dynamic, accessible language to explain and communicate important issues. She positions her clients as experts in their fields and helps them communicate about pressing issues. Writing communications that boost employee engagement and thought leadership, she also coaches leaders and executives on how to strengthen communications and leadership. She loves to connect people and resources or solve seemingly impossible problems.

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Ross Ching, founder of Mama & Hapa’s Zero Waste Shop in Portland, Oregon.

Ross explained how the zero waste movement has been gaining steam. He wanted to develop a shop that made the zero waste movement easier for everyday people to join.

“There's a large segment of the population who really want to help the environment, but they also don't want to be inconvenienced. That’s what we are trying to aim as a target market.”

Mama & Hapa’s is touch free, using an RFID smart card for payment. Ross is determined to create a business that allows people to reduce their waste at a low price point.

Zero waste goes beyond saving plastic. It makes people conscious of all the steps that go into a product from cradle to grave.

Check out Mama & Hapa’s website, and if you’re in Portland, pay them a visit!

Next week on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast, I interview I interview Paula Dunn, who was born with a cleft lip and palate like me.

Previous Episode

Mallorie Dunn, Smart Glamour: Creating affordable, inclusive, and size-inclusive clothing for all

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Mallorie Dunn, founder of Smart Glamour in New York City. Mallorie has been interested in clothing her whole life. She attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Pratt Institute.

She found that corporate fashion was not her cup of tea. Mallorie also began noticing how badly women and femme people feel about themselves in their bodies...and how difficult it can be for people to find clothes that fit them well and are made well.

She started Smart Glamour in 2014, a customizable, ethical fashion brand based on the idea that everyone deserves clothing that is not exploitative of the people that make it. Smart Glamour’s size chart goes from XS to 15X and beyond. All of the clothing is customizable to sizes above and below that chart.

During the pandemic, she sewed masks and offered them for pay what you will. She started a podcast interviewing her models and other makers. She also shares videos of her making things or giving sewing tips. She’s also a part-time professor at The New School and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Mallorie feels strongly about providing all types of clothing for plus-size people, customized to fit as needed. “The majority of people are plus size in this country, yet they are vastly underserved. Once you get above 3X and especially once you get above 6X, people do not have options."

To make her business processes sustainable, Mallorie makes everything to order. She purchases most of her fabrics from local family-owned discount fabric stores. Most of it is overstock. She uses every scrap of her fabric, holding leftovers for what she calls Smart Glamour surprises.

Mallorie also is committed to producing affordable, ethically made clothing.

On Smart Glamour’s website, you can shop by model... from models who are of all sizes, heights, ages, and abilities.

Mallorie has integrated social impact into her business by creating products that benefit nonprofits.

Check out Mallorie’s website and her podcast, and pass it on! Everyone deserves to feel beautiful and included in fashion!

I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform.

The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. If you like what you hear or read, wander through my website to find out more about my work.

Can you use some help with your writing, editing, communications, or marketing? Contact me for a free 30-minute consultation. With 30 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, I am passionate about sustainability and corporate citizenship, equity & inclusion, businesses that use their power for good, and doing everything I can to create a kinder, more sustainable, and just world. We help organizations and people discover what makes them special and help them share that with the world.

Fertile Ground Communications LLC is a certified women-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.

Next Episode

Heather R. Younger, Employee Fanatix: The Employee Whisperer who teaches leaders how to care

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Heather R. Younger, a best-selling author, international speaker, consultant, adjunct organizational leadership professor, and facilitator.

Born to a white, Jewish mom and a Black dad, Heather was deliberately excluded from her mom’s family, thanks to racism. She grew up feeling like an outsider, which has made her especially determined to create caring environments wherever she goes.

“I didn't even get to go to a large family gathering until I was 36 years old, which, by the way, was my grandmother's funeral. It was an interesting way to grow up...I could have turned out to be a curmudgeon, blaming the world and not being kind. And I chose not to. I chose to be the person who made other people feel included and engulfed with love and care. I'm a big hugger. I like to bring people into the fold...I chose the path of uplifting and encouragement and support.”

Heather has earned a reputation as “The Employee Whisperer.” As a champion for positive change in workplaces, communities, and our world at large, Heather founded Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement and leadership development consulting and training firm, to inspire others by teaching the kind of caring leadership that drives real business results.

Heather hosts the weekly podcast “Leadership with Heart,” which uncovers what drives leaders from all over the world and all walks of life to be more emotionally intelligent leaders. She has also written two leadership books: The 7 Intuitive Laws of Employee Loyalty and The Art of Caring Leadership.

We had a wonderful conversation about how to create companies that care.

Next week on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast, I interview my friend Nura Elmagbari, who immigrated to the United States from Libya as a young person, has experienced a huge amount of Islamaphobia since then, and now actively works to help refugees acclimate and adjust...providing the support she did not receive when she first immigrated here.

Marie Gettel-Gilmartin, founder and principal of Fertile Ground Communications LLC, is a writer and marketing communications consultant who loves to take the pain and stress out of writing for her clients. She specializes in making the complex clear, using dynamic, accessible language to explain and communicate important issues. She positions her clients as experts in their fields and helps them communicate about pressing issues. Writing communications that boost employee engagement and thought leadership, she also coaches leaders and executives on how to strengthen communications and leadership. She loves to connect people and resources or solve seemingly impossible problems.

As a podcaster for justice, I stand with my sisters from the Women of Color Podcasters Community. We are podcasters united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of police.