Green Resources Consulting, led by Iveth Jalinsky-Kaplan, turned its Missouri-grown bamboo research into life-saving PPE during COVID-19. This innovation not only supported the fight against the pandemic but also created new jobs and boosted local sustainable manufacturing in the U.S.

Sometimes innovation comes from the most unexpected places. For Green Resources Consulting (GRC), led by visionary entrepreneur Iveth Jalinsky-Kaplan, that place was a bamboo plantation in Missouri.

What began as a sustainability project soon became a key contributor in the fight against COVID-19. Through years of research, Iveth and her team discovered ways to cultivate bamboo in Missouri’s demanding climate—making it a renewable material with the power to reduce carbon emissions and replace imported resources.

When the pandemic struck, Green Resources quickly pivoted. Their bamboo-based fabric technology was adapted to produce high-performance protective masks, helping fill the critical PPE shortage across the United States. Supported by grants from the Missouri Department of Economic Development, GRC retooled its facility to manufacture every part of the masks locally—reducing dependency on foreign supply chains and creating hundreds of potential jobs.

“We wanted to stop importing and start producing here in Missouri,” says Iveth. “This is about helping our communities and protecting both people and the planet.”

The company’s innovation extended beyond masks, positioning GRC as one of the first U.S. facilities capable of producing nonwoven meltblown textiles for protective gear such as gowns, aprons, and head covers—entirely made in America.

Beyond its economic impact, the project demonstrates how sustainability and social responsibility can work hand in hand. What started as a personal health journey for Iveth evolved into a mission to balance human consumption, production, and the protection of natural ecosystems.

Her leadership reflects a simple but powerful principle: sustainable innovation begins at home.