Big Ideas: “How we can eliminate single use packaging” with Mike Newman, CEO of Returnity Innovations

As a part of my series about “Big Ideas That Might Change The World In The Next Few Years” I had the pleasure of interviewing Mike Newman. Mike is the CEO of Returnity Innovations, the pioneer in the elimination of single use shipping packaging. Mike has worked at the intersection of supply chain and sustainability for over 20 years. After directing the Sierra Club’s political operations in 20 states, he received his MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. As Sales and Marketing Vice President for ReCellular, he built e-waste programs for Verizon, AT&T, Walmart, Best Buy and more, saving millions of used cell phones from landfills. Through his leadership at Returnity, reusable packaging will replace the use of over 1 million cardboard boxes and poly mailer bags in 2019. Mike has been featured on The Today Show, the New York Times, NPR and more.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

In my 30’s it became clear to me that my family legacy combines both entrepreneurship and, oddly enough, waste management; My paternal grandfather owned a scrap yard, my maternal grandfather owned a plumbing business, and my father built a company that became the largest…