Tru Earth is a local eco-friendly consumer goods brand that burst onto the social media scene back in April 2019. In less than a year, the young co-founders have multiplied their impact in the laundry soap business by marketing a product that consumers both wanted and needed. Tru Earth, like many climate-friendly citizens, looks at plastic as the enemy. A key objective is to make products that both replace and eliminate plastic packaging from our waterways and landfills.
The Beginnings
Ryan Mckenzie, a West Coast native, grew up in New Westminster alongside his best friend and business partner, Kevin Hinton. Mckenzie was always curious about business even while being raised in a working-class home. Like many childhood besties, Ryan and Kevin were busy with lemonade stands and other childhood ventures. Growing into adulthood the two were out to make their mark. However, things didn’t always go as planned. During one of their lowest points, the two came into Brad Liski’s orbit. Brad, a communications specialist, and business entrepreneur as well as mentor, leased their workspace in a coworking building for a pittance. He saw potential in this dynamic duo. This was the beginning of a new chapter for everyone.
COVID Kindness
During the fall of 2019, the Tru Earth business was just starting to get its feet. The newest business venture went from concept to reality based on a duty to future generations and the need to do more. With COVID closing in many populations, the team was selling products to the tune of 100’s of thousands. Using an online marketing platform and shipping packages directly to a person’s home created needed convenience. However, they also recognized the dark side of how this disease was affecting people’s livelihoods. So, they started reaching out to charities and accommodating fundraisers to see how their product could affect change.
The Future Looks Cleaner
Finally, in 2021, Tru Earth aligned themselves with a local sustainable clothing business, Tentree, and started moving into the retail environment for ease of access. Simultaneously, they are focusing on expanding their reach and going to other rooms in people’s homes such as the kitchen and the bathroom, in addition to the laundry room. Currently, they have a new cleaning product on the market, an eco-strip disinfecting multi-surface cleaner that is vegan-friendly, manufactured in Canada while cleaning and disinfecting 99% of all germs. Talking with Ryan Mckenzie, he states that their motto is “little hinges swing big doors”. Time has proven that Tru Earth is making an impact on how people envision cleaning. This two-by-four-inch product seems to be swinging the doors open to a brighter, cleaner future.