Fork in the Road: How Pittsburgh-Based TerraVive Is Replacing Single-Use Plastic

What if the fork you use for five minutes did not stick around for the next 500 years? Terravive Founder and CEO Julianna Keeling and President Joe Swider join Jonathan Kersting and Audrey Russo on TechVibe Radio to explore how the company is building a healthier, more sustainable alternative to single-use plastics. TerraVive manufactures compostable takeout containers, cups, cutlery, plates, films and other food-service products using materials sourced and manufactured in the United States. Keeling traces the company's roots from her early work developing a biodegradable blood-pressure cuff to TerraVive's expansion into the massive food-service market. Swider, a mechanical engineer, Navy veteran and serial entrepreneur, recounts how seeing plastic waste floating in the middle of the Atlantic helped spark his interest in the mission. The conversation digs into TerraVive's rapid growth, expanding healthcare applications, commitment to American manufacturing and relentless focus on customer service. The company has doubled its revenue in each of the past two years, tripled it the year before that and now supports more than 1,000 American jobs. Hit Play to get a: A fresh look at the plastic problem: Learn why TerraVive believes items used for only a few minutes should not remain in the environment for centuries. A Pittsburgh-powered growth story: Hear how Keeling's materials-science background and Swider's engineering and business experience combined to accelerate the company. Made-in-America innovation: Discover why TerraVive rejected advice to outsource overseas and instead built a domestic supply chain designed to create jobs and shorten lead times. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and business ecosystem.