Ep 55 Sasha Titchkosky: The future of business is circular
Episode description
Sasha Titchkosky is the co-founder and CEO of Koskela; Australia’s leading sustainability practitioner in the furniture and design industry. She has become an influential voice for circular business and social impact as she transforms Koskela towards total circularity by 2027 and absolute-zero emissions by 2035.
She also leads programs that use design skills to support Australia's Indigenous communities.
Sasha founded Koskela in 2000 with her partner Russel Koskela, both leaving behind lucrative jobs in the corporate sector in a bid to create a company with a courageous mindset and strong social conscience.
Today, they work with some of the world's leading corporations and educational institutions to create work and learning spaces of the future, from Airbnb to Pinterest, Apple, Google, and Australia's leading law firms and banks.
In 2017 Koskela became Australia’s first certified furniture B Corporation.
Sasha is committed to manufacturing Koskela’s range in Australia and is a fearless advocate for using design skills to affect social change.
Our interview covers Sasha’s career journey leading to why and how Koskela started 24 years ago.
Sasha shares the story of Koskela’s evolution from a business that started with the principles of designing furniture that was affordable and sourced and manufactured locally, to their commitment to achieve total circularity by 2027.
It’s a story of innovation and leadership and one that I’m certain will provide inspiration and insight to others who want to understand how business can solve some of society’s most challenging problems.
Interview Highlights:
❤️ Sasha introduces Koskela, highlighting their two impact pillars – reconciliation and environment
＄ She shares her background journey from law and working at the ASX to how she and her partner started Koskela
❤️ The problem Koskela set out to tackle – the horrific level of waste in the way commercial tenancies worked
＄ The evolving thinking of Koskela’s founders on certain climate certifications and why they decided to move beyond carbon neutrality
❤️ Sasha explains their move towards creating their own carbon budget and she highlights and recommends the tool they’ve adopted, through The SME Climate Hub
＄ She shares their ambitious 2027 deadline to become fully circular
❤️ Sasha explains the scale of the problem they are tackling, highlighting both waste and health factors.
＄ This provides the context for her to share how Koskela have designed their shift to circularity, including their ReHome second life program
❤️ Sasha shares the next exciting phase of Koskela, a subscription model award-winning concept that is currently in development
＄ We discuss the importance of profitability for a purpose-driven business
❤️ Sasha outlines her vision of what Koskela could look like by 2030
Connect with Sasha and Koskela:
Koskela's 2027 Circularity Action Plan