The School Project that Grew into a Global Eco-Business

“We all need to play our part in protecting the environment and we encourage everyone to join us in reducing plastic waste through greener and cleaner alternatives” (Emilio Rimini, Managing Director, The Green Co)

According to Sir Richard Branson, who left school at 16 and is the billionaire founder of The Virgin Group, starting a business (a student magazine) on leaving school “taught me the most valuable lessons that I never would have learnt in the classroom”. As a result, as he says, “One of my biggest hopes in life is that education systems around the world realise the value of teaching entrepreneurial skills”.  While still some way from achieving this, it is increasingly possible for young people to develop their entrepreneurial skills in schools, both through the curriculum and in extra-curricular after-school activities. In the UK, since 1962 for example, Young Enterprise has worked in schools with young people aged 13-19 to give them practical experience of starting and running their own business.

This is precisely how The Green Co started in 2018. It was a Young Enterprise project started by a group of 16-year-old sustainability-minded school pupils in Hertfordshire. They wanted to reduce plastic waste, carbon emissions and the use of chemicals in cleaning materials, making “Cleaning better for your Home, Family and the Planet”. The idea was that they made non-toxic plastic-free cleaning products that they sold in local retail markets. Although they did not win the Young Enterprise competition, they continued making and selling their products and on leaving school, in 2020, they had a summer of sales events planned. These had to be cancelled, however, when the COVID pandemic broke and, on the verge of bankruptcy, they pivoted the business and turned to online sales. This proved to be successful and when the founders, Emilio Rimini and Kieran Chauhan, went to university in 2020 the business relocated from their mothers’ kitchens first to Emilio’s student accommodation and then to a warehouse in Dundee, Scotland.#

In 2021, they launched their trademarked Laundry Detergent Greensheets^TM which were an instant success. Their loyal customer base grew, and they appointed their first employee, a Creative Director, who transformed the look and feel of their products. 2023/24 saw further growth in the demand for eco-friendly cleaning so they not only introduced the UK’s first fabric conditioner sheets, and their innovative Cleaning Spray Green Tabs^TM,, but engaged 5 new members of staff, Emilio recognising the importance of having a team that shares the same desire to change the washing industry.

By 2025 they were well on their way to achieving their mission of providing “planet-friendly products that simplify your life while caring for the environment”. The company had over 100,000 customers in 150 countries. Their products are vegan, cruelty free and packaged in plastic-free, biodegradable materials. They are also space-saving and can be transported easily, while the company uses renewable energy to power their operation and offsets its carbon emissions through tree-planting projects. For every Green Sheet^TM sold the company donates one to a UK food bank. Hence it is a profit-making business that addresses the sustainability challenge, particularly SDGs 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action) and 15 (Life on Land). Having started as a school project, The Green Co demonstrates what responsible young people can achieve when they are introduced to entrepreneurship education. They are not just creating a business that generates wealth and jobs but helping to save the planet, both directly through the products they produce and sell and indirectly by helping their customers live more sustainably, reducing their impact on the planet

In 2024 both Emilio and Kieran graduated from their respective universities with degrees in Geography and Politics and International Relations and the case demonstrates that entrepreneurship education needs not impact negatively on a student’s education. Indeed, it can help by developing his/her creativity, critical thinking capability, problem solving skills and ability to communicate, while the experience of teamwork and leadership aids his/her career prospects, irrespective of whether that is in employment or self-employment. The world needs young people who can find creative solutions to problems and bring about change, whether they work for others or themselves

As Professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter observed some 40 years ago “Today, more than ever, because of profound transformations in the economic and social environment it should be a national priority to release and support the skills of men and women who can envision and push innovations” (Moss Kanter, 1984, 354)

References

Moss Kanter, R., (1984), The Change Masters; Corporate Entrepreneurs at Work. London:Unwin.

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