Reinventing Clean: The Story of Tom Akers and Renew Bath & Body
By: Hilario Caro, Talent Optimization at StaffBuffalo
In this powerful and inspiring episode of the Pain Points Podcast, Lauren Lewis sits down with Tom Akers, founder of Renew Bath & Body and Junk-Free Skin, to discuss how personal reinvention, innovation, and sustainability intersect to create meaningful change. From heartbreak and new beginnings to pioneering zero-waste personal care, Tom’s journey proves that great ideas—and second chances—often start with a spark of determination.
From Heartbreak to Renewal
After selling his share in a successful restaurant franchise, Tom found himself at a crossroads. “I was too young to retire,” he said. “So I thought, why not start a little bath and body shop?” That spark led to Renew Bath & Body, a boutique on Elmwood Avenue that became a local favorite for natural, toxin-free products.
But what started as a small retail experiment soon evolved into something much larger—a mission. “We realized how much plastic we were putting into the world, and I felt awful about it,” Tom shared. That awareness pushed him to reimagine what clean beauty could mean—not just for the skin, but for the planet.
Inventing a Plastic-Free Future
In 2019, Tom and his partner, Mike, began experimenting with a bold new concept: personal care pods made with water-soluble film that completely dissolves, leaving behind zero microplastics. Inspired by laundry pods, Tom envisioned the same ease and convenience for body wash, shampoo, hand soap, and face wash.
After years of testing and countless setbacks, their persistence paid off. Renew Bath & Body became one of the first companies in the world to launch fully dissolvable, all-natural personal care pods—free from plastic waste and harsh chemicals.
Their next breakthrough came when they developed backyard-compostable pouches, even down to the zip tie. “Nothing about our packaging should last longer than our products,” Tom said proudly. “We’re proving that sustainability and luxury can coexist.”
From Local Roots to National Shelves
What began as a Buffalo storefront now fuels a growing manufacturing operation producing over 500,000 pods a day in a 10,000-square-foot facility. Renew’s products are now available in over 100 Wegmans locations, with partnerships expanding across Erie County parks, Moog, KeyBank, and local co-ops.
Their refillable public restroom hand soap system alone has helped reduce thousands of plastic cartridges—Lexington Co-op alone cut 600 per year to zero. “It’s not just about selling soap,” Tom explained. “It’s about rethinking systems that were broken—and making sustainability easy.”
A Circular Vision for a Cleaner World
Tom’s mission goes far beyond the shower. With projections showing more plastic than sea life in the oceans by 2050, he’s using his platform to educate consumers, businesses, and policymakers on the urgency of reducing waste.
Every detail of Renew’s process—from compostable packaging to refillable dispensers—is designed with intention. “By preventing 40,000 plastic containers a month from entering landfills, we’re proving that one company can make a measurable difference,” Tom said.
Building a Community of Change
Tom’s story is also a love letter to Western New York’s small-business ecosystem. Collaborations with local makers like Caitlin at Mor Soap and Tracy from Little Salmon show how Buffalo’s entrepreneurial spirit thrives through partnership. “Buffalo businesses genuinely want to help each other,” he said. “It’s what makes this city so special.”
At StaffBuffalo, we celebrate leaders like Tom who turn challenges into innovation and vision into impact. Just as Renew Bath & Body helps eliminate plastic waste, we help build sustainable careers and organizations rooted in purpose.
To explore Tom’s eco-friendly innovations, visit renewbathandbody.com or jfskin.com, and look for Junk-Free Skin products at Wegmans, Lexington Co-op, and other local retailers across Western New York.