Founder: Why I Start Gladerlife Brand

I am often asked why I start an unconventional drinkware factory and brand? I would also ask myself and think about it again and again, and finally I found the answer from my own growth process.

I was born in the early 1970s, when China’s modern industry was booming. I am from Yongkang, Zhejiang, China, a city full of light industrial factories. When I was growing up, I witnessed the establishment and development of factories one by one, and also witnessed the development of environmental protection movements around the world.

Since I was a child, I followed the adults in various factories, learned a lot of knowledge about production and factory management,  imagined what I would look like when I grew up. When I became an adult, I traveled to more places and learned more about manufacturing and the global environmental movement.

In the two decades from the 90s to the early 2000s, I have been learning how to be a person who can really help the world. During my studies, I inevitably came into contact with a lot of environmental issues, such as how the worldwide environmental pollution destroys so many family, how plastic waste turns land waters and oceans into a plastic soup, etc… I think I need to do something, I need to use my power to change something for this world…

Later, as a member of the manufacturing industry, I had an in-depth understanding of various materials, production processes, employee management, and other aspects. Relying on the advantages of the production area, I established my own stainless steel water bottle factory when I was in my twenties. At the beginning, I just wanted to follow the footsteps of my predecessors to develop the traditional water bottle factory step by step. This is the inheritance in the traditional Chinese concept. I want to learn the traditional craftsmanship from the predecessors, so that the products I produce can keep up with the times.

In addition to the field of production, I also actively expanded my knowledge. I travel around the world to experience the local customs and various charitable and environmental protection activities. In the journey of continuous learning and comprehension, I feel that I can no longer rely solely on inheriting the experience of my predecessors to develop my career. I need to add more innovations and changes to the world in my work, so that I can not just only keep up with the times, but even to lead the development direction of the times. At this point, I’ve forged my own path from traditional manufacturing and created a brand I’m proud of – Gladerlife®.

I have implemented charity and environmental protection into my life and career. Every year, I organize employees to participate in charity activities to help support the lives of rural children and improve the nearby natural environment. Compared with traditional manufacturing factories that emit pollutants every day, I have added multiple pollutant recycling links in my factory, and implemented a people-oriented management method to protect the rights and interests of all employees. Not only the environmental protection of the production environment, the products and packaging materials I choose are all recycled or recyclable. My factory has even passed the C2C (Cradle to Cradle) certification, which proves Gladerlife’s efforts for social sustainable development.

I think I have found the reason why I created Gladerlife, a high-quality drinkware brand whose core is environmental protection and reuse. Because I am happy that I live on the same earth with all of you, proud of the working ability of all my employees. I have a sense of mission to improve the world’s environment and improve my own strength.

Thank you for all the people and things I met along the way, I hope Gladerlife can accompany you and me to have a glader life!