Eric Hudson

Eric started Preserve in 1996 with a mission to help reduce the harm caused by the industrial age by demonstrating that products could be both fabulous to use and lighter on the Earth. The company’s first product was the Preserve toothbrush, a product made from recycled # 5 plastic and completely recyclable. At that time, making a product from start to finish as respectful as possible of our Earth’s natural resources was an effort to turn business on its head. Today, Preserve boasts a portfolio of everyday household products including razors, tableware, food storage and kitchen tools. The Preserve line can be found in more than 7,000 retail locations nationwide including Whole Foods Market and is best-selling in each of its categories in the $140 billion natural retail market. Preserve also supplies universities, corporate and health care institutions with its food services line and is expanding to bring to market plant-based compostable products.

A native of Massachusetts, Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from Boston College and earned his MBA, with distinction, from Babson College. He comes from a family rich in entrepreneurship including grandparents who were the founders of Brookstone.

Eric’s love and respect of nature is really what took him out of the business-as-usual atmosphere he was rooted in early in his career. Eric worked in operations management and trading at Fidelity over the course of 6 years. After business school, he established his own consulting firm, Hudson Consulting, in collaboration with such partners as Andersen Consulting, advising clients on how to develop more efficient operations. At the same time, he began researching product ideas for a company that he envisioned would utilize Earth’s resources more respectfully by keeping reusable materials out of landfills.

Eric has served on several boards and councils. For years he served as chair on his town’s (Acton MA) Green Advisory Board and the board of the Robbins de Beaumont Foundation that funds a variety of non-profits including those with a focus on preservation of the environment through education about the value of our natural resources. He serves as a board member of B Local Boston.  He is a member of Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) and is an Unreasonable Group Fellow.   

Eric lives in Acton, MA with his wife and 3 sons. He drives an electric car but is most happy getting around on bicycle, train or foot. Every year, Eric raises thousands of dollars for the Pan Mass Challenge – a bike-a-thon that raises money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He is also an avid tennis player, mixes pond skating with yoga, and has been skiing since he was three; and although the opportunities are rare these days, Eric shares a great love of surfing and windsurfing and loves the Bay State for both.