Sustainable Manufacturing Solutions: Tom Akers’ Journey to Zero Waste

Written By Guest User

Check Out the Latest Episode of the Pain Points Podcast with Tom Akers of Renew Bath and Body and Junk Free Skin!

Welcome back to the Pain Points Podcast, powered by StaffBuffalo! 

In this inspiring and thought-provoking episode, host Lauren Lewis sits down with Tom Akers — founder of Renew Bath and Body and Junk Free Skin — for a raw and insightful discussion on the real Pain Points behind sustainability, innovation, and scaling a purpose-driven business. 

After leaving the fast-food world (yes, he once owned multiple Taco Bell and KFC locations), Tom found himself at a crossroads. With a passion for clean skincare and a desire to do something meaningful, he opened Renew Bath and Body in Buffalo, NY. What started as a storefront soon evolved into a full-blown manufacturing operation creating water-soluble, zero-waste personal care pods designed to eliminate plastic waste. 

We cover: 

  • The personal Pain Points that sparked a skincare revolution 

  • The staggering truth: by 2050, there may be more plastic in the ocean than sea life 

  • How Junk Free Skin’s pod-based hand soap and body wash is disrupting outdated models 

  • Innovating through failure — and how persistence (and donuts) won over international partners 

  • The challenge of educating consumers and creating behavior change 

  • Landing top-shelf placement at Wegmans and scaling manufacturing operations in Buffalo 

  • Why compostable packaging and refillable dispensers matter more than ever 

  • The future of sustainable production and how Shift 2.0 and EWI are helping them grow 

If you care about clean products, plastic-free living, and game-changing innovation from passionate founders, this episode is a must-watch. 

Explore Products: https://www.renewbathandbody.com 
Learn More: https://www.jfskin.com 
Follow Renew Bath and Body’s journey: https://www.instagram.com/renewbathandbody 

Connect with Tom Akers:  Tom Akers | LinkedIn 
📍 Based in WNY? Find Junk Free Skin products in 100+ Wegmans locations! 

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe so you never miss a new Pain Points Podcast episode. 

Guest User
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