Plastic conscious start-up smashes crowdfunding bid
Duo ‘amazed’ by demand for items like knives, mats and sunglasses
SIPPING from a warm plastic water bottle while cycling, Thomas Ellis had an idea to create an environmentally sustainable business that would benefit the planet – and it’s now taken off with Portsmouth pledging its support.
When he returned home, he set about creating Southsea start-up Squidmoo, with his fiancee Alex Cuppleditch.
The pair make stainless steel, twin-lined bamboo lid bottles which you can leave in the sun for hours.
Thomas, 39, said: ‘The journey didn't end there, every encounter we had with items that we thought were awesome but needed a small tweak became part of our range.
‘Ultimately they are all products that we used or needed to become plastic conscious.’
Now the business, which started in January, produces items such as lunch containers, yoga mats, knives and sunglasses, as well as providing businesses and organisations with plastic free consultations and workshops.
It has launched a crowdfunder, in a bid to raise £25,000 and help make Portsmouth plastic free by providing reusable items to combat one use plastics.
Thomas, who used to be a gas engineer before starting
Squidmoo, said: ‘I got a point where I wanted to do something to give back and do things for my daughters and make the world a better place for them.
‘We started in January and it has just exploded from there.
‘It has gone from selling products online to a huge collaborative effort to make Portsmouth plastic free. It has been amazing.’
The crowdfunder has already smashed its initial target of £15,000 and is now well on its way to its new £25,000 target.
Thomas said: ‘I am amazed, humbled and shocked at the support. I’m flabbergasted.’
It has even received backing from Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan.
Mr Morgan said: ‘The work that both Thomas and Alex are doing is simply fantastic.
‘What they and Squidmoo are doing is an important reminder that whilst we are facing a new global challenge, it does not mean the others have simply disappeared.
‘It is why I’m more than happy to back their campaign to reduce the use of single use plastic to zero in the UK by 2030, and their crowdfund to help achieve this here in our great city of Portsmouth.’
For more go to crowdfunder. co.uk/squidmoo#start