Alumna fights climate change

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Jessica Tishue seeks to reduce plastic waste with her edible containers and utensils

Mayella Vasquez / Asst. Feature Editor / The USD Vista

Jessica Tishue, a University of San Diego alumna from the class of 2011, is an entrepreneur dedicated to solving the problem of this generation’s “grab-and-go culture” with her revolutionary invention — edible containers and utensils infused with flavor. 

From a young age, Tishue recalls that she was taught by her parents to be independent and has always been someone who moves to the beat of her own drum. Tishue named her French grandmother as a formative figure in her upbringing, noting that her grandmother’s resilience in the face of adversity inspired Tishue’s determination and passion in her future career.

“My grandmother is my role model,” Tishue said. “She was a part of the French Underground, so she helped protect the Jews from the Nazis. ‘C’est la vie,’ she always said, when things went wrong.” 

Tishue discovered her natural talent for entrepreneurship as an undergraduate student at USD, where she started creating a new marketing formula. After repeated testing, she was able to share her formula with her peers and later used her savvy in the field of digital marketing to teach courses to senior executives about staying competitive online. 

Tishue graduated from USD in 2011, taking on a job at a digital marketing agency. After a few months, she realized that she needed to pursue her own goals and dreams, leaving her job to start her own marketing agency and first company, Disruptive Marketing LLC. 

While Disruptive Marketing LLC has been successful, Tishue sought more in her career as an innovator and entrepreneur. Since 2011, Tishue had been developing an idea to manufacture edible utensils and containers, an idea that led her to create Bliss Foods.

“I started building prototypes,” Tishue said. “They consistently got better, and are finally becoming a company. This is the hardest thing I have ever done.”

Bliss Foods is a zero-waste company that aims to inspire one billion people to go plastic free. Their innovative products and ideas include edible superfood cups, bowls, and cutlery that come in sweet and savory flavors, such as mocha-flavored coffee cups. These products can also keep their form for approximately 14 to 15 hours.

According to the organization Earth Day, 16 billion disposable coffee cups are used every year. As a result of their plastic lining, most coffee cups are difficult to recycle and end up in landfills for decades. Disposable cups also create thousands of tons of carbon dioxide every year, contributing to overall global warming. Tishue shared that she has closely researched the harmful effect disposable products have on the environment and is determined to help find a solution.

“I spend a lot of time on this stuff,” Tishue said. “We need to do something.”

Tishue finds time in her busy schedule to stay involved at USD, volunteering and mentoring students. Tishue recently shared her story at the Half-Time Retreat, a collaboration between University Ministry and the Career Development Center to help sophomores find and discern career choices they are passionate about.  

Besides her business goals, Tishue plans to study quantum physics and Chinese medicine. In the future, she would also like to be a philanthropist and help end world hunger.

In the meantime, Tishue aspires to live everyday by her definition of success. 

“Success is about using your energy and talents to better humanity,” Tishue said. “It’s about being happy and going to bed and thinking that it was a great day.”

Despite her high energy levels and determination to reach her goals, Tishue admits that owning and running her own company can be exhausting.

“This company is so much work, but this is my life purpose,” Tishue said. “Live everyday like it’s your last, enjoy life — savor its sweetness, its colors and textures. Let things go, open your mouth and trust your gut.” 

Tishue asserts that she has found fulfillment in life by pursuing her passion and encourages Toreros to do the same.