From Pre-Loved to Purpose: Redyoos Founder Cleo Escarez on the "Her Entrepreneurial Rise" Podcast

At Redyoos, we believe that jewelry should do more than just sit in a drawer—it should have a purpose. Our founder, Cleo Escarez, recently sat down on the podcast Her Entrepreneurial Rise to share the story behind Redyoos and how we are reimagining sustainability in the jewelry industry.

Produced by the Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (WE Lead) at the University of Washington, this podcast amplifies the voices of women changemakers who are transforming industries and redefining leadership.

A New Model for Jewelry Recycling

During the episode, Cleo walked through the mechanics of the Redyoos recycling model. We’ve built a circular supply chain that bridges environmental responsibility with meaningful social impact:

• Social Good: Suitable "pre-loved" jewelry is donated to nonprofits to generate funding for vital community programs.

• Green Tech Support: Metals that cannot be repurposed are responsibly recycled to provide materials for the green technology supply chain, reducing the need for new mining.

Why Our Mission Matters

Cleo shared some eye-opening statistics about the heavy toll of traditional mining. A peer-reviewed study from DePaul University found that mining the gold for just one 14-karat wedding band releases roughly 288kg of CO2 equivalents. Furthermore, mining is a primary driver of deforestation—responsible for 4,500 square miles of forest loss in the Amazon between 2005 and 2015—and leads to the release of toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide into our ecosystems.

By choosing to recycle jewelry, we can collectively reduce this environmental harm and support innovation.

Insights from the Founder’s Journey

From her background in strategy consulting to becoming a climate entrepreneur, Cleo’s journey offers a roadmap for anyone looking to turn a sense of purpose into a scalable business. Listeners will gain practical advice on:

• Identifying jewelry as a strategic vehicle for climate impact.

• Securing early resources and building a supportive, values-driven network.

• The importance of simply starting, even if the path isn't perfect.

Listen & Get Involved

You can listen to the full episode, "From Pre-loved to Purpose," on Spotify here: From Pre-loved to Purpose: Cleo Escarez, Founder of Redyoos.

Ready to give your jewelry a new life? You can start from the comfort of your home. Request your free mail-in kit on our website and join the movement toward a more sustainable and equitable future