Highlights From Interview With Stuart Landesberg: Founder and Executive Chairman of Grove Collaborative

Highlights From Interview With Stuart Landesberg: Founder of Grove Collaborative

For my second interview, I had the pleasure of speaking with Stuart Landesberg, the founder of Grove Collaborative. This particular interview excited me since my family has used Grove Collaborative products for years. It was both interesting and exciting to learn more about the very products that I had grown up with and used regularly.

When our conversation began, I learned from Stu about his inspiration to start Grove Collaborative by simply noticing from everyday life that people choose products that are not good for the Earth. He began building an ecommerce marketplace with the focus of removing plastic.

Before Grove, Stu worked in investing, in a firm called TBG Capital. Discipline and finance led to his ability to be a good leader.

When asked about his biggest successes, Stu said there were not many in the beginning. It took him 1.5 years to make the website, and he claims he was naive in the beginning, which allowed him to keep pushing forward. Despite the small successes in the beginning, in the early days, there was no pressure from venture capital; his main focus was just trying to improve: “It was actually really fun.”

Stu believes the biggest environmental problem is plastic. Around 50% of plastic waste comes from single-use packaging. Grove uses aluminum, glass, and paper to create well-designed and aesthetically pleasing products, category by category.

One of the biggest changes that Grove underwent was its transition from an ecommerce marketplace to a consumer products company, with the majority of the products being Grove Collaborative brand.

Stuart wrapped up the interview by sharing advice for entrepreneurs interested in sustainability: “Just go into the field!” Stu insists that the sustainability industry will have to grow for us all to be here in 100 years, and we need more people to get involved in the industry. He shares the quote from his grandfather, “Eat well or sleep well,” alluding to the choice between making more money or helping a great cause. Stu believes in prioritizing making a mark on the world over money.

All in all, I learned a lot about both Stuart as a person, as well as the incredible work he’s done to create a company successfully battling waste. Stu was super nice and very easy-going! I am very grateful for this opportunity and glad to have understood the process of building his company. I am proud to use Grove Collaborative products in my household, and I encourage everyone to do so as well!