Business
The 2010 earthquake in Haiti had a lasting effect on Ian Rosenberger. During his volunteer trip to the devastated Caribbean nation, he kept a journal of his experiences there. One of his journal entries stated simply, “if Haiti could turn trash into money equals good.” This idea planted the seed for what would become Thread International. Five years and many iterations later, Ian and his small team learned how to make fabric out of recycled plastic and they landed their first global collaboration partner, Timberland. In 2019, Thread International’s material licensing brand became First Mile, aptly named for its focus on the sourcing of materials in the “first mile” of the supply chain.Although Thread International made a significant worldwide impact during its first few years in business, Ian wanted to do even more. In 2018, he launched Day Owl, a consumer backpack and accessories company that uses First Mile sourced recycled plastic materials in its products. Thread International is a Certified B Corporation, which means that it has pledged to meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental accountability and performance, while balancing profit and purpose. In this episode, Ian shares what it was like to grow up in a family of entrepreneurs, how we can use business to solve some of the world’s biggest problems, and what he learned about life from his participation on the reality TV show, Survivor.If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!YOU CAN REACH ME AT:Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilanoPhone: 412-336-8247YOU CAN REACH IAN ROSENBERGER AT:Website: https://www.firstmilemade.comWebsite: https://www.dayowl.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstmileimpactInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellodayowlsTwitter: https://twitter.com/firstmileimpactFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellodayowls