An Interview With Monica Sanders
Put your relationships first. Always take the call, always make the time, and always try to be of true service to everyone around you. Your real wealth is in your relationships so invest in the currency you have with people.
According to the University of Colorado, “Those who are most affected and have the fewest resources to adapt to climate change are also the least responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions — both globally and within the United States.” Promoting climate justice is an incredibly important environmental responsibility that is slowly becoming more and more recognized. In this interview series, we are talking to leaders who are helping to promote sustainability and climate justice. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jenn Tsang.
Jenn Tsang is the Founder & CEO of Sqwishful, an award-winning, plastic-free home care brand for eco-minded homes. One hundred percent of Sqwishful’s products and packaging are plant-powered and home compostable. A design-forward entrepreneur, Tsang is a sustainability expert with a passion for wellness and positivity, and a women’s health and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) advocate.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
My grandfather moved to East Hampton, New York in the 70s as an immigrant from Hong Kong — long before the Hamptons were more than scattered farms. His historical house across from the iconic windmill is now an inn. Its antique barn was later acquired by a private collector and moved to a property that sold for $90 million in 2006. My grandfather’s Chinese restaurant, which served the local community year-round, is still a restaurant today. His name, along with so many immigrants who came to the US to work in the fields and kitchens — is missing from historical accounts.
My father moved to New York City to attend Columbia University, and I was born in Washington Heights. After graduating, he moved us to a suburb just 40 minutes outside of the city called Holmdel in New Jersey. Not many people have heard of Holmdel, but the transistor that later became the microchip was invented there at Bell Labs. Known for innovation, Bell Labs drew engineers and scientists from all over the world to live and work in our small town.
Growing up in a first-generation home, I was part of these two, very different immigrant communities. One that was characterized by labor and back-breaking work, and the other, by technology and rigorous study. From an early age, I cultivated a deep appreciation of their uniqueness as well as the long hours and sacrifices they shared to create the future for us.
Everyone has a cataclysmic moment or marker in their life which propels them to take certain actions, a “why”. What is your why?
I knew from watching my parents and others who were not afraid to start from scratch, that I wanted to start something of my own. I started Sqwishful after finding out about my endocrine disorder called polycystic ovarian syndrome. PCOS is the leading cause of infertility in women after aging and affects up to 26% of women worldwide. Finding out about PCOS and its connection to bisphenol A or BPA, a chemical used to make plastic, led me to minimize plastic in my life. The more I learned about how plastic affects human health, especially, our hormones, I saw how disproportionately the production and consumption of petrochemicals impacts vulnerable communities.
You are currently leading an organization that is making a difference for our planet. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change?
Ninety-nine percent of plastics are made from fossil fuels — and fossil fuels are the single largest contributor to climate change. A close second I would argue is climate doomism — or the idea that we’re past the point of being able to reverse climate change, which isn’t true. Sqwishful’s mission is to inspire climate action by making plastic-free products that clean and leave the world cleaner. We bring hope to the climate conversation and promote positivity, wellness, and sustainable living. Some might call this “wishful.” We call it Sqwishful. We love the idea that something we want to happen can happen. Especially when it comes to our choices and the impact we can make.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
The first time I traveled to China to meet our bamboo producers and the people making our products, it was an eye-opening experience. I saw firsthand their farms and facilities. I got to know the people behind our products and their communities. As a partner, I think it’s important to verify certifications and do site visits — but experiencing the day-to-day of supply teams and where they go for lunch is just as important. There is a perception in the West that products made in China are made by soul-less machines or joyless workers. This is not entirely untrue as we experience these circumstances here at home. But when you take out the autonomy and lived experiences of many people who are passionate about their work — you take away the joy and hope they feel for their futures.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
I’ve had the privilege of being coached by Sandra Velasquez, the founder of the Mexican beauty brand, Nopalera. Sandra is a fierce supporter of women entrepreneurs and minority-owned businesses. She once said, “Nothing changes if you don’t.” One of the most challenging things about being an immigrant or first-generation founder is feeling like you belong in business — and not a farm, kitchen, or lab. There is a weight that needs lifting to scale without losing integrity, authenticity, or compromising your values. It’s a challenge every social or sustainable business finds its unique way to address. It’s also a reminder that to change the world, we need to change ourselves.
Thank you for that. Let’s now move to the central part of our discussion. Let’s start with a basic definition of terms so that everyone is on the same page. What does climate justice mean to you? How do we operationalize it?
Martin Luther King famously said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This is what climate justice means to me. Vulnerable communities and the global south are suffering the most from climate change when they are the least responsible for it. According to the World Bank, by 2050, more than 143 million people could be displaced from their homes by climate-driven natural disasters. More than half of the developing world relies on farming and agriculture which are helpless to extreme weather. Here at home, Black and Brown communities are 75% more likely to live near production facilities that produce plastics and other hazardous waste. Everywhere we see injustice — we also see the battle for justice. Governments, municipalities, and societies coming together to work on and find solutions for our climate crisis.
Science is telling us that we have 7–10 years to make critical decisions about climate change. What are three things you or your organization are doing to help?
At Sqwishful, our mission to inspire climate action is more than just a promise. It’s our daily work. We believe that restoring the health of our planet and people requires supporting communities, raising awareness, and building circular economies.
As a minority woman-owned business, 75% of the companies we buy from and work with are majority-owned by BIPOC owners, while 50% are women and gender non-conforming. We invest in communities that we believe belong in business.
As a hormone health advocate, I raise awareness about the health effects of plastic and toxins on our bodies — and connect the production and consumption of these environmental pollutants to the social issues that underpin their pervasiveness.
As a sustainable business, we contribute to building circular economies. Economies that are based on the principles of “designing out” waste, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. One hundred percent of our products and packaging are compostable.
But most importantly, we believe every solution begins with hope. It’s easy to confuse being hopeful with naïveté. But hope is where things start. When we stay hopeful and open to possibilities, no matter how impossible they seem, the future becomes ours to make.
Are there three things the community, society, or politicians can do to help you in your mission?
We need the support of governments, municipalities, and societies to bring about change. We need legislation to reduce harm to communities at risk, regulations for chemical and toxin production and exposure, and programs to expand municipal composting. We also need to empower individuals to understand their choices and impact.
How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
Some businesses may feel skeptical about being more sustainable or environmentally conscious because of what it means to their bottom line. When in fact, becoming more energy efficient, conserving water, and reducing waste can improve their bottom line. Consumers are also more aware than ever of the environmental impact of the products they buy and their purchasing decisions. When I launched Sqwishful in 2018, there were only a handful of nationwide green cleaning home care brands. Now, every new home care brand is green — it’s what consumers want and expect. The global household green cleaning products market is projected to reach 300B this year and nearly 500B by 2030. Capitalism as a paradigm is shifting and not soon enough — the faster businesses embrace being sustainable, the faster we all make this shift.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started promoting sustainability and climate justice” and why?
1 . Let go of perfection. We can’t be perfect in an imperfect world. There will always be ways to be more sustainable or equitable. There will always be areas to improve. As climate activist Clover Hogan said, “We don’t need 100 perfect activists, but millions of imperfect ones.”
2 . Take the long view. We can’t see how actions build, how behaviors change, or how something that seems impossible is possible until we see it through. Value slow and meaningful progress even when you don’t get immediate results.
3 . Put your relationships first. Always take the call, always make the time, and always try to be of true service to everyone around you. Your real wealth is in your relationships so invest in the currency you have with people.
4 . You can’t do it all. As women, we’re expected to “do it all.” This is a myth. We can’t do everything. There are no trophies for trying. Figure out what you can do, what is sustainable for you, and find help for the rest.
5 . Resist despair. This is easier said than done. The best examples of resistance have to come from indigenous populations. Who, as climate activist Julian Aguon said, “have a unique capacity to resist despair through connection to collective memory and who just might be our best hope to build a new world rooted in reciprocity and mutual respect — for the Earth and for each other. The world we need. The world of our dreams.” We don’t have time for climate despair when we are busy being agents of change.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I’m deeply inspired by the beauty and simplicity of “less but better” and the work of Dieter Rams.
How can our readers continue to follow your work online?
- Website: Sqwishful.com
- Instagram: @sqwishful
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
About the Interviewer: Monica Sanders JD, LL.M, is the founder of “The Undivide Project”, an organization dedicated to creating climate resilience in underserved communities using good tech and the power of the Internet. She holds faculty roles at the Georgetown University Law Center and the Tulane University Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy. Professor Sanders also serves on several UN agency working groups. As an attorney, Monica has held senior roles in all three branches of government, private industry, and nonprofits. In her previous life, she was a journalist for seven years and the recipient of several awards, including an Emmy. Now the New Orleans native spends her time in solidarity with and championing change for those on the frontlines of climate change and digital divestment. Learn more about how to join her at: www.theundivideproject.org.
How Jenn Tsang of Sqwishful Is Helping to Promote Sustainability and Climate Justice was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.