Meet Heather Itzla | Founder / Plastic Waste Fanatic

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Itzla and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heather, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The disconnect between understanding where we are today when it comes to plastic (we’re moving away from using the term plastic pollution because the reality is plastic IS pollution from extraction to disposal – it’s a disaster at inception) – but the idea that plastic production is rising steeply while we grapple with the reality that this permanent material is actively polluting the water we drink, the soil where we grow our food, and the air that we breathe – all the while continuing to direct students/families to purchase disposable (mostly plastic) school supplies every year – it’s outrageous. No one was doing anything in this space, and I had some experience sourcing zero-waste products for my children’s school – so when I connected with my co-founder, we started the company.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When I was first learning about the scope and scale of plastic pollution, I started noticing little pieces of plastic everywhere. Much to the horror of my family (though they are used to it by now) I started picking up all the pieces that I would come across because it troubled me to know they would otherwise wash down the nearest storm drain and out to the waterways. Eventually I started photographing the amount I would collect during each 1 hour dog walk in my neighborhood, and I put them up on a blog I started called There is No Away, and it still stops people in their tracks to learn that there is this much plastic on the ground every day.
The images can be seen at
thereisnoaway.net

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a big big fan of Alamo Draft House in the Mission – it’s the only place we ever go for movies. We love the vibe of the place, but mostly love that the popcorn is served in big metal bowls, and beverages in glass rather than a bunch of disposable boxes and cups!

Coffee:
Trouble Coffee in the Outer Sunset, plus great shops/bookstores on either side

Drink:
Love the low key vibe of Woods Outbound (also just a few doors down from Trouble Coffee) for a great selection of their line of beers and wines on tap.

Walk:
Land’s End – just stunning.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My co-founder Nikki Kozlowski. We’ve been at this around the clock since 2016, and I can’t imagine building and running a company with anyone else – The entrepreneurial journey is not for the faint of heart, so her ratio of grit to sense of humor (think it’s 50:50) is spot on.

Website: https://www.wisdomsupplyco.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisdomsupply.co/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-itzla-56138018/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wisdomsupplyco