This Boss Bitch Spotlight is focused in on Plaine Products and their co-founders, Lindsey McCoy & Ali Webster. This company is female powdered and environmentally stable, which are things we love here at Venus Rising. We will be posting a review of their body care in a few weeks, along with a review of other "No plastic July" products.
What inspires you?
I’m answering from the perspective of what inspired me to start Plaine Products. For 10 years I lived in the The Bahamas doing environment education work. While I loved living there, it wasn’t all rum drinks on the beach. On a small island there’s no first world infrastructure to insulate you from the piles of plastic we are creating. You see plastic bags, bottles and flip flops on the beaches, in the water, spilling out of the landfills, along the side of the road. There’s even a place so full of plastic its called Junk Beach. The message that plastic last forever, no matter how long we use it, is much more obvious living there than it is here.
I wanted to start using less plastic in my life. I started taking action: carrying a reusable water bottle, reusable grocery bags, skipping the straw at restaurants and bars. I looked for other ways to use less plastic. But I couldn’t figure out how to get those plastic bottles out of my shower. I’m not crafty enough to make my own shampoo safely and shampoo bars didn’t work for me, I needed another option.
As we contemplated a move back to the States, I realized that I might be able to solve my own problem. Even better, I might be able to help other people use less plastic in their lives. I pulled in my sister, Alison Webster, who has a design degree and strong opinions about the quality of her products. Together we spent two years finding the right containers and products. We launched in February 2017.
What’s your sign and how do you think that plays a part in your life?
I’m a Gemini, so I’m a multi-tasker and love to keep things moving. My sister, and co founder, is a Virgo, so she has stronger opinions and wants everything to be just right. She says she would have never launched while trying to make everything perfect, and I would have launched too soon, so we balance each other out. She has a great sense of style of design and I love communication and creating partnerships. Together we make a great team.
What is the main purpose of your account/brand?
Our goal is to make it easy for people to get quality, vegan, cruelty-free products without having to buy single use plastic bottles. The less single use plastic in the world taking up room in our landfills, spilling into our oceans, the better for all of us. And, although we didn’t start out to be a natural company, I’ve become a huge advocate of keeping harmful chemicals out of the products we put on and in our bodies. I had no idea there were so many chemicals in most mainstream products until I started doing research as we were getting started. How does it work? You order your preferred products. When your bottles are low you order a refill, or you can subscribe and we’ll send the bottles automatically. When the refills come you’ll switch the pumps over and send back the empty bottles in the refill box, Plaine Products covers the cost. Then we clean the bottles, refill them and reuse them.
What is something you love deeply about yourself?
I’m happy that our brand stands for less plastic in the world. The best thing about the plastic problem is that it’s one we can solve by making more sustainable packaging choices and re-using when we can. I love to know that we’re part of a solution to a problem. Scientists say that there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050, I hope we can make sure that’s not a case. I’m also proud that, as far we we know, we’re the only company taking responsibility for our packaging in this way! Some times it’s good to be different.
What’s some advice you have for girls revolving around confidence?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn as you go. Everyone has to start some where. I didn’t know anything about manufacturing or the beauty industry when we started but I’ve come a long way and still have a long way to go. That’s not to say you shouldn’t do your homework. Always read up as much as you can, know who you’re talking to and what you can learn from them.
What makes you feel confident?
Painted toes and preparation.
What have you had to overcome that’s made you who you are?
We’ve hit a lot of roadblocks in the process of creating this business. It took us two years from having the idea to opening the company. We had lots of people tell us it wouldn’t work or it couldn’t work. Throughout it all we kept creatively solving problems and just persisting. We maintained the belief that this type of company was possible.
Who are your biggest inspirations?
There are so many amazing women out there that are working hard to change the world, I love getting to work with them. Lauren Singer at @trashisfortossers and @packagefreeshop, Kathryn Kellogg @goingzerowaste, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau @joyfulvegan Celia Ristow @golitterless are just a few of the amazing women I’ve gotten to work with and who inspire me to keep going.
What’s your beauty/fashion go to?
My sister is my beauty and fashion icon. I trust her taste implicitly. I actually don’t even like shopping without her.
What would you say is the best thing about you?
I love that I’m a problem solver. I don’t take no for answer, I just find a different way around.
What does feminism mean to you?
That every woman has the right to make the choice that’s best for her and her life. Whether it’s working or not, kids or not, conventional or unconventional. We should all be free to be who we are.
