Terravive: Turning the Tide on Plastic, One USA-Made Compostable Fork at a Time

When Julianna Keeling began experimenting with sustainable materials as a high school student, she didn’t imagine her research would one day fuel a manufacturing revolution. 

But a decade later, as the founder and CEO of Terravive, she’s leading a company that’s redefining what “Made in America” means by creating compostable products that don’t just serve a meal but serve the planet. 

“Our mission,” Keeling says, “is to turn off the tap of single-use plastic. We want people to enjoy the convenience of disposable products without the guilt.” 

Terravive produces everything from cutlery and clamshells to takeout containers, all made from fully compostable, plant-based materials sourced in the USA. Each item looks and feels like traditional plastic, but breaks down naturally, like an orange peel. 

The company operates across 16 U.S. manufacturing facilities and three warehouses shipping to four continents, employing more than a thousand Americans through its extended network. “We’re proud to say we’re a woman-, minority-, and veteran-owned company,” Keeling adds. “That triple threat is part of what makes Terravive special.” 

A Passion Born in the Lab 

Keeling’s entrepreneurial journey started early. While other teens were focused on exams, she was studying biopolymers and dreaming of scalable sustainability. “I’ve always been passionate about sustainability,” she says. “In high school, I was working on materials that looked and performed like plastic but could decompose naturally. I took that research out of the lab and into the marketplace.” 

After continuing her work at Washington and Lee University, Keeling realized a troubling pattern: most so-called eco-friendly products were imported from Asia. “Others in this space weren’t manufacturing here,” she recalls. “They were shipping everything across the ocean, creating even more emissions. That didn’t make sense.” 

So Terravive made a bold choice: everything, from raw materials to finished goods, would be produced in the United States. “At the time, it wasn’t even a good business decision,” Keeling admits with a laugh. “It was expensive. But we did it because we believed in it. We like to say we’re the most patriotic disposables company out there.” 

Enter the Co-Founder from Pittsburgh 

Six years ago, Keeling crossed paths with Joe Swider, a Virginia Military Institute alum, Navy veteran, entrepreneur, and proud Pittsburgh native. Swider immediately saw Terravive’s potential and joined the mission as Chief Operating Officer and co-owner. 

“I’ve lived through Pittsburgh’s highs and lows,” Swider says. “And when we were looking to expand, Pittsburgh just made sense. It’s a city full of smart, hardworking people with a deep industrial history. This is where we wanted to grow.” 

Terravive’s decision to establish a footprint in Pittsburgh was both strategic and symbolic. “There’s a long legacy here of building things that last,” Keeling says. “We’re bringing that same spirit to sustainable manufacturing.” 

David and Goliath—with a Green Sling 

In a market dominated by global plastics giants and importers, Terravive has thrived by being fast, flexible, and fiercely values-driven. “We love the David and Goliath game,” Keeling says with a grin. “And we’ve been winning for 11 years straight.” 

Swider explains the advantage: “We don’t have outside investors telling us what to do. We own the business fully. That means we can focus on what matters: American manufacturing, certified compostable products, and creating good jobs.” 

That independence has paid off. Terravive’s client list includes Virginia Tech, Washington and Lee University, Premier, Metz Culinary, US Foods, Eagle Rising, and even the U.S. House of Representatives, where the cafeteria has swapped out imported products for Terravive’s American-made compostables. “It’s kind of poetic,” Swider says. “Lawmakers talking about bringing jobs home are now eating lunch with our products made right here in the States.” 

The Pittsburgh Advantage 

Terravive remains headquartered in Richmond, Virginia and its expansion in Pittsburgh isn’t just about logistics , it’s about innovation. “Pittsburgh is at the center of AI and robotics,” Keeling says. “The ecosystem here—Carnegie Mellon, Pitt, the  Tech Council—creates opportunities to rethink how manufacturing can work smarter.” 

That combination of sustainability and advanced manufacturing gives Terravive an edge over much larger competitors. “Big companies are like cruise ships,” Keeling says. “It takes them forever to turn around. We’re a speedboat. We can change direction in seconds.” 

Made in America, Built to Last 

While many companies chase the next big funding round, Keeling and Swider are focused on long-term impact. “Every product we make is part of a bigger story,” Keeling says. “We’re not just selling forks and plates, we’re supporting local economies, reducing pollution, and proving that sustainable manufacturing can thrive here.” 

Swider nods. “When we make something in the U.S., it doesn’t just create a product, it creates a ripple effect of jobs. From the manufacturing floor to the local diner where workers grab lunch, it all adds up.” 

For Keeling, the mission remains clear: “We want to leave the planet better than we found it. And if we can do that while creating American jobs and reducing plastic waste, then we’re doing something right.” 

In Pittsburgh, Terravive isn’t just building a company. It’s building the future of sustainable manufacturing one compostable fork at a time. 

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