Austin-based CLEAN Cause yerba mate helps fight drug, alcohol addictions

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin based company CLEAN Cause will begin selling its yerba mate beverages in Whole Foods stores nationwide Saturday.

Founder and CEO Wes Hurt said CLEAN Cause donates 50% of its profits to support local drug and alcohol recovery groups.

To date, he said the company has given more than $500,000 and over 1,000 30-day sober living scholarships. These scholarships allow people straight out of rehab to focus on finding a job and establishing a recovery support system.

"Addiction affects us all, and we wanted to be sure to make it known that was the purpose and the north star of the brand," Hurt said.

Hurt said he created the company during his own journey to recovery.

"Most of my life I didn't have a north star in regards to purpose," Hurt said. "Having that newfound recovery, I wanted to focus on being able to establish a brand and a way to create funding that is sustainable to combat addiction."

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In regard to the product itself, Hurt said the yerba mate gives a similar function as coffee or an energy drink without the negative side effects.

"We like to think of it as better caffeine," he said.

As CLEAN Cause expands to a nationwide market, Hurt said they will continue to give back to local markets.

"Anywhere across the country where you consume this, we give back to that local market, so it's a national brand with a local giveback," Hurt said. "At the end of the day, it's our customers that are driving the growth."

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