Method
Method creates naturally derived, biodegradable cleaning and personal care products that challenge conventional notions of clean. The company's plant-based formulas put the hurt on dirt without harming people or the planet.
The Story
In 2001, childhood friends Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry launched this cleaning-products brand from a small San Francisco apartment with a radical idea: cleaning products could be environmentally responsible and beautifully designed. Their first release was an hourglass-shaped dish soap in four bright scents, a clear break from the harsh, utilitarian bottles that dominated store shelves.
The founders bootstrapped the business through the dot-com bust, reinvesting every dollar into product development rather than traditional advertising. By 2006, Inc. magazine had named the company the seventh fastest-growing private company in America, a recognition of how quickly the brand had moved from underground favorite to mainstream success. Along the way, the firm proved that sustainable packaging and plant-based formulas could compete with conventional giants on performance and style.
In 2017, SC Johnson acquired the company and its sister brand Ecover, folding the pioneering firm into its Lifestyle Brands division. The deal gave the brand access to global distribution while preserving its design-forward identity. Today, it continues to sell home care, laundry, and personal care products in more than thirty countries, still driven by the original mission to put the hurt on dirt without harming people or the planet.
Key Facts & Metrics
Company Timeline
2001 — Company founded
Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry launched Method from a San Francisco apartment, starting with an hourglass-shaped dish soap in four scents.
2006 — Inc. 5000 recognition
Method was named the seventh fastest-growing private company in the United States by Inc. magazine.
2017 — Acquired by SC Johnson
SC Johnson signed an agreement to acquire Method and Ecover from People Against Dirty, folding them into the Lifestyle Brands division.
2018 — Global expansion continues
Under SC Johnson ownership, Method expanded distribution to more than thirty countries while maintaining its design-driven identity.
Episodes Featuring Method
Advice Line with Eric Ryan of Method returns
Guy Raz brings Eric Ryan back to the Advice Line alongside founders Christina Peng of Haven Beauty and James Chambliss of Pigeon Toes for a masterclass in turning setbacks into comebacks. Eric reveals how Method weathered near-bankruptcy before its eco-cleaning revolution, while Christina confronts the fear of scaling beauty without losing soul. James unpacks the emotional labor behind founding a toy company that makes childhood magic. Three raw conversations about what happens when the vision meets reality—and why some brands survive the collision.
Advice Line with Eric Ryan of Method
Eric Ryan, co-founder of Method and serial entrepreneur behind brands including Welly and Tandy, joins Guy Raz on the Advice Line to help three early-stage founders navigate real business challenges. Aubrey in Franklin, Tennessee seeks mentorship to scale her growing bakery and restaurant group. Maggie from Chicago weighs whether raising outside capital is the right move for her innovative luggage brand, Props Luggage. And Matt in Scottsdale, Arizona looks for a path to get his convertible glove company, FlipMitts, onto retail shelves. Eric shares lessons drawn from decades of building and scaling consumer brands.
