Tyler De Sousa, Co-founder at Circulr, the future of CPG packaging | That’s a Food Job! Podcast #107
Tyler De Sousa is the co-founder of Circulr, a company helping Consumer Packaged Goods brands close the loop on their glass packaging through reuse. By managing the logistics of sourcing, collecting, and redistributing reusable containers, Circulr is making it easier for businesses and consumers to reduce waste and support a circular economy.
In this episode of That’s a Food Job!, Tyler shares how a small pilot project turned into a growing social enterprise. He talks about the challenges of changing consumer behaviour, the importance of industry collaboration, and how technology is helping scale systems of reuse. We also explore the personal side of entrepreneurship—staying motivated, taking risks, and creating real community impact.
If you’re curious about sustainability, innovation, or building purpose-driven businesses in the food industry, you won’t want to miss this one.
In this episode:
00:00 – Introduction to Circulr and the Power of Small Changes
01:53 – How Circular’s Reuse Model Works (Consumer & Business Side)
04:07 – How the Collection and Reward System Operates
05:53 – Lessons from the Beer Store: Industry-Standard Bottles
07:54 – Packaging Differentiation vs. Reusability
09:47 – The Early Days: Founding Circular from a Student Startup
12:11 – The Tech Side: Reverse Vending Machines Explained
13:35 – What is Social Entrepreneurship?
15:35 – Tyler’s Journey Into Social Enterprise and the Role of Enactus
17:32 – The “Why” Behind Tyler’s Mission for Planet-First Business
19:25 – CareersNOW! Sponsor Segment
21:21 – Learning from Diverse Experiences and Applying Skills
23:25 – Is Reuse Profitable? How Circular Cuts Costs
25:10 – Barriers to Scaling: Investment and Mindset
27:34 – Convincing Businesses: Lessons in Persuasion and Adaptability
29:37 – Building a Future-Ready Business Case for Reuse
31:20 – Circular’s Growth Plans: Technology, Pilots & Partnerships
33:37 – How Circular Reaches Clients: Cold Calling, Trade Shows & Luck
35:45 – Staying Motivated During Challenges
37:59 – Why Reuse Makes Sense: The Friendlier Example
39:31 – Closing Reflections & Advice for Students
Recommended next episode
#79 –Rebecca Bradley, Chief Marketing Officer at Terra Bioindustries
Sponsor
CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNOW.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development.
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