Chantal Emmanuel is the CTO & Cofounder of LimeLoop. Her career continually brings her to the intersection of technology and design and she builds tools and experiences to re-imagine the reusable packaging experience and predictive analytics.
- What are you currently learning, personally and/or professionally?
Chantal: Given the amount of screen time involved in what I do, especially during quarantine, I’ve been finding myself really craving balance through non-tech hobbies. Recently that’s meant a lot of beekeeping and gardening books and podcasts in preparation for the spring. Of course all roads lead back to LimeLoop, as I find my mind constantly drifting towards finding parallels between the components of a thriving beehive to that of building a company.
- When did sustainability become a priority?
Chantal: I have a very distinct memory of my dad tying up large bundles of newspaper with twine Sunday evening, to go out for the next day’s recycling pick up. Today, my pre-recycle day pickup ritual is breaking down the large pile of the week’s worth of cardboard boxes. And I know I’m not alone because as I look up and down the street, all of my neighbor’s bins are overflowing with the same. We started LimeLoop because we knew this way of living isn’t sustainable; neither from an environmental perspective, nor a logistical one. Once we set out to solve the problem, what I began to notice once waking up to my relationship with single-use packaging, I quickly became more aware of other areas in my life where I’m creating unnecessary waste and resource consumption that could be replaced with reusables. It’s one of the things that’s really difficult to unsee once you’re aware of it.
- What about supply chain excites you?
Chantal: I grew up one of those annoying kids who incessantly asked ‘why?’ That’s translated to a (hopefully) less annoying adult asking ‘how?’ I love systems: the more complex the more compelling, and few systems deliver more on both than supply chain logistics. With how quickly e-commerce has risen in popularity these past few years; most of the questions around it have focused on speed and efficiency. I love that we get to develop a solution that takes the next leap forward. We keep these focuses in mind as well as the end consumer experience and environmental sustainability throughout the process.
- What made you want to get into podcasting?
Chantal: Education will be a huge part of LimeLoop’s success. The more people who learn about sustainable systems, like reusable shipping, and the vital role each individual plays in bringing about a more sustainable future, the better it’ll be for everyone. I’ve met so many brilliant people through my work with LimeLoop, and I constantly find myself mid-conversation wishing that I could share this knowledge with more people. Behind the Green became a way to share these conversations. Podcasting is a great medium to share the important work people are doing in this space and in a way that’s approachable and easily consumable.
- What are you most looking forward to in 2021?
Chantal: Professionally, LimeLoop has a few launches planned for this year that we are really excited about. In the coming months, we’ll be announcing new hardware and software rollouts, partnerships, and reusable shipper designs. It’s really exciting to see the culmination of the past 4 years of underground work coming out into the world. Personally, as more people are vaccinated, I’m looking forward to beginning the transition to a post-pandemic world; holding on to the lessons we’ve learned through this experience, while reconnecting with people face to face.