Since founding her sustainable zero-waste beauty products company, Ethique, Brianne West has prevented more than 10 million plastic bottles from being made and disposed of landfills.Her innovative solid beauty bars are vegan, cruelty-free, palm oil free and are wrapped in compostable packaging.
While studying towards her Bachelor of Science degree in 2012, Brianne realised that with so much water found in our bathrooms there was no need to add it to the likes of shampoo, conditioners, moisturisers, and cosmetics, which are usually 60-95% water. By making these products solid and simply sending the active ingredients to customers, there was no need for plastic containers.
Following 7 years of hard work, Brianne has created a successful brand with global distribution thats having a positive impact on the world. Her brand is now sold in over 20 countries, in more than 4,000 stores.
I wanted to start a company that had a purpose beyond profit to align my desire to do business with my desire to do good.
Brianne has been named a "Top 100 Global Thinker" by Foreign Policy magazine in 2016, the 2019 EY Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019 and the One Young Worlds "Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2020.
Her hope is to eliminate plastic from the global beauty industry. The overarching goal is to put a bar in every shower and to change consumers behaviour and prove to businesses that they can be environmentally proactive while also being financially sustainable.
She is passionate about protecting and restoring the environment and believes that business should benefit everyone involved, from suppliers, to the team - not just shareholders.
