Regeneration at Scale: Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, CEO of ECOS the #1 Green Laundry Detergent

In this live fireside chat, I sit down with Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, President and CEO of ECOS, to explore what it looks like to steward a values-led company across generations while continuing to grow, innovate, and evolve.Kelly shares how ECOS grew from a family-run company making products by hand into the number one-selling green laundry detergent in the US, while remaining independently owned and grounded in its commitment to human and planetary health.We discuss:Stepping into leadership after the death of her father and founder of ECOSBuilding a company with a long-term, multigenerational viewMaking difficult growth decisions when opportunities fall outside the company’s valuesRemaining independently owned without VC or private equityMoving ECOS toward zero waste, net zero certifications, and climate positive operationsBuilding team buy-in around sustainability and organizational changeCreating a culture where innovation can emerge from every level of the companyBuilding resilient, localized supply chains across four manufacturing facilitiesAdvocating for ingredient transparency through the Cleaning Products Right to Know ActThe relationship between cleaning products, human health, and the home environmentDesigning products and packaging around reduced waste, refill, aluminum, and laundry sheetsGreen chemistry, upcycled ingredients, and new innovations like BanatechGovernance, succession planning, and protecting the company’s mission over generationsWhat Kelly believes consumer companies and the next generation of founders need to understand about building for the long termThis conversation was recorded live in Los Angeles as part of a live fireside chat series with Light Dao.To book a consult with Katrina on how you can build more leadership and Regenerative capacity for you and/or your team, book a call here.