Trash Talk Series - Tamara Mekler (Co-Founder and COO at Fortuna Cools)

Join us for a Trash Talk with one of our Stanford alumni in waste entrepreneurship, Tamara Mekler. 

Fortuna was born in a fishing village in the Philippines where optimism is contagious and resourcefulness is a way of life. What began as a graduate school project to improve local fish packaging became a business that’s improving lives and inspiring change from California to Lubang Island.

Today, her team makes biodegradable packaging under the Fortuna Cools brand and sustainable consumer products like the Nutshell Cooler.

Fortuna’s all-natural insulation is replacing plastic foam once and for all: our products are designed to last years, not millennia. Made from coconut farm waste, Fortuna coolers are durable, affordable, and biodegradable. What's more, Fortuna’s upcycled raw material provides additional income for farmers and eliminates CO2 emissions by using waste that would otherwise be burned. Fortuna designs foldable coolers for outdoor lovers under the Nutshell brand, and cold-packaging for food and beverage suppliers in emerging markets.

Check out their company at https://www.fortunacools.com/