Today we’d like to introduce you to Anastacia Yefimenko

Hi Anastacia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

Hi! I’m Anastacia Yefimenko, the founder of Elcove, a line of non-toxic and zero-waste home care products. My journey started with a personal struggle – I’ve dealt with allergies and asthma my whole life because of the chemicals in regular cleaning products. When I realized that 2.5 billion plastic cleaning bottles are thrown away every year in the U.S., I knew I had to do something.

So, as an 18-year-old first-year at Babson College, I decided to create a better option. That’s how Elcove was born – the name even comes from “Eco Love” because we believe in loving ourselves and the planet.

After a lot of research and working with a chemist, we launched our first product, a dish soap, in 2023. Now, we have both dish and hand soaps in various scents, including unscented for people like me with allergies. Our products come in reusable glass bottles and compostable refill pouches – just add water and you’re good to go!

I leveraged pitch competitions and grants for young entrepreneurs and won funding that allowed me to launch and grow this company. Now, we are selling on our own website and Amazon and are in the process of launching in specialty retailer stores!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

It hasn’t been a smooth road at all!

Starting out, I wasn’t a chemist, so I had to dive deep into research and eventually find someone with the right expertise to help develop our products.

In addition, as an 18-year-old college freshman with no business background and limited funds, I had to get really creative. For instance, I designed all the packaging for Elcove myself using Canva. We also faced challenges in securing funding, which led me to participate in pitch competitions and apply for grants. It was tough balancing school, research, and running a startup, but every struggle taught me something valuable. These experiences have made our impact even more rewarding.

We’ve been impressed with Elcove, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

At Elcove, we specialize in creating non-toxic and zero-waste home care products. Our mission is to provide sustainable and affordable alternatives to conventional cleaning products that are safe for both people and the planet. We offer dish and hand soaps in reusable glass bottles with compostable refill pouches, allowing our customers to mix the product at home by just adding water.

What sets us apart is our dedication to eco-friendliness and health. Our products are designed to be just as effective as traditional cleaning products without the harmful chemicals or plastic waste. The name “Elcove” itself is derived from “Eco Love,” reflecting our commitment to loving ourselves and the environment.

We are most proud of the positive impact we’ve had on the environment and people. Since our launch in 2023, we have prevented thousands of plastic bottles from entering the environment and have gotten so many positive reviews from people that love our products!

We’re excited to continue growing and helping more people transition to sustainable and healthy living!

What do you like and dislike about the city?

What I love most about Boston is how much the city cares about sustainability, such as composting programs and the public transportation system. On the flip side, the pollution, especially the trash can sometimes be seen around the city.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elcove.co