Brianne West

Brianne West (born 1986 or 1987[1]) is a New Zealand environmentalist, entrepreneur and the founder of Ethique, the world's first zero-waste beauty brand.[2][3] In 2016 she was named a "Global Thinker" by Foreign Policy magazine and in 2019 the EY Young Entrepreneur of the Year.[4][5]

Brianne West, founder and CEO of Ethique

In 2022 Mattel named West their Barbie Role Model for New Zealand created a custom Barbie in her likeness.[6][7]

Early business

West founded her first company, a pet detective agency, at age eight.[8][9] She started her first natural cosmetics business as a high-school leaver at the age of 19, and ran it for two years before starting a confectionery company.[10]

West began creating solid-bar shampoo and conditioner in her kitchen as a hobby in 2012, while in the second year of her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch, New Zealand.[9][11][12] West used the knowledge from her studies to formulate products with natural ingredients from ethical and sustainable sources. By removing water from the products, West created a range of completely plastic-free products which were also not tested on animals, and were sold in biodegradable and compostable packaging.[13][14][15] Later the same year she started marketing the bars under the company name of Sorbet Cosmetics.

Ethique

In 2013, she entered a business entrepreneurship competition at her university called "entré".[16][3] As a result of becoming a finalist she secured a business mentor.[17]

By 2015, her company had prevented 60,000 bottles from needing to be recycled[11] and West re-branded the company as Ethique.[17][18][19][20]

In 2015, West launched an online crowdfunding campaign through PledgeMe, which raised NZ$200,000, and attracted the largest number of female investors in the site's history.[21] The funds were used to build a customised laboratory for developing and manufacturing products, and to expand the company to global markets.[4][21] She expanded the range of products to include solid body wash, face creams and moisturisers, deodorants, self-tanning bars, household cleaning products and pet wash. In 2017, West launched a second crowdfunding campaign and reached PledgeMe's daily limit of NZ$500,000 in 90 minutes.[22] In 2019 the company had a turnover of more than $10 million a year.[23]

In 2019, the company expanded operations to stores in the UK.[24][25]

In 2020, West was named as an Obama Foundation Leader[26] and as One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year.[27] Ethique also officially achieved 10 million bottles saved from use and West announced a new goal of half a billion by 2030.[28] Ethique expanded to more than 20 countries including Australia, United States, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

West sold 75% of the shares in Ethique to New York-based investment firm Bansk Group in late 2020.[29][30] In 2023 she resigned as chief executive of the company.[31]

Products

The company makes a range of solid hair, face and body bars. All products are sold in compostable packaging, meaning zero consumer waste. Ethique only uses biodegradable ingredients and wrappers so its solid bars leave no trace on the planet. Consumers can dispose of the compostable wrapping in their home compost bin. This means there are no bottles, jars, lids or pump dispensers contributing to landfill or oceanic pollution.[32] The company also champions the use of fair trade and sustainable supply chains.[33]

Later career

After selling Ethique, West launched Nous Labs (later changed to Insprie Labs), which provides investment and mentoring for environmentally and socially focused enterprises.[31]

She founded Business, but Better, a free education and mentoring hub, in late 2022 to help other entrepreneurs build successful mission-driven enterprises. [34][35]

In 2023 West announced her new company Incrediballs, launching in 2024, a plastic-free drinks brand creating 'soda tablets' in a bid to tackle the plastic waste in the drinks industry.[36]

Awards and recognition
  • 2023: Kea World Class New Zealand Award[37]
  • 2023: The New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs[38]
  • 2022: Blake Leader (Sir Peter Blake Trust)[39]
  • 2020: Time magazine 100 Best Inventions of 2020 – Ethique Concentrates[40]
  • 2020: One Young World Young Entrepreneur of the Year[27]
  • 2020: Obama Leader Asia Pacific[26]
  • 2019: NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards, Communication for Change commendation[41]
  • 2019: New Zealand Women of Influence Awards, Business Enterprise winner[42]
  • 2019: Deloitte Fast 50, ranked fourth fasted growing company in New Zealand[43]
  • 2019: Westpac Champion Business Awards, ChristchurchNZ Champion Innovation winner and the Westpac Champion Supreme Awards Small Enterprise winner[44]
  • 2019: New Zealand Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Ernst & Young)[45]
  • 2019: American Chamber of Commerce (New Zealand) DHL Express – Exporter of the Year to the USA $1 million to $10 million[46]
  • 2018: Kiwibank Local Hero Award[47]
  • 2018: Kiwibank Innovator of the Year, semi-finalist[48]
  • 2016: Top 100 leading "Global Thinkers" in the American Foreign Policy magazine[4]
  • 2016: Vital Voices by Bank of America mentee[49]
  • 2016: East-West Center's Changing Faces Women's Leadership Seminar, participant[50]
  • 2016: EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women, participant[51]
  • 2015: Deloitte's "Rising Star – One to Watch"[52]
  • 2015: New Zealand Green Apple Awards (for environmental best practice), silver[53]

References
  1. "Beauty boss Brianne West is named a global thinker". Sunday Star-Times. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  2. "Beauty bars stop over 3 million plastic bottles entering landfill". Stuff. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  3. "Brianne West". The University of Canterbury. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  4. "Global Thinkers 2016". gt.foreignpolicy.com. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  5. "Brianne West". www.ey.com. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  6. "Barbie Role Models Brianne West | Mattel". Mattel Shop. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  7. "Kiwi natural beauty mogul immortalised as a Barbie doll". NZ Herald. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  8. "Ethique". Sustainable Business Network. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  9. "Brianne West". The University of Canterbury. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  10. "Small business: Natural beauty – Brianne West". New Zealand Herald. 28 February 2014. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  11. "This Woman Has Diverted 60,000 Plastic Bottles From Landfill. Here's How. | 1 Million Women". www.1millionwomen.com.au. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  12. "Payday for Ethique investors after deal signed with international backers". Stuff. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  13. "Kiwi founder of Ethique named as 2016 'Global Thinker'". Mindfood. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  14. Chhabra, Esha. "This Female Founder Raised Over $1 Million For A Zero-Waste Beauty Brand". Forbes. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  15. Ruiz-Grossman, Sarah (25 July 2016). "Genius Solid Shampoos Use No Plastic Packaging By Leaving Out Water". HuffPost. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  16. "Brianne West". The University of Canterbury. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  17. West, Brianne. "Sorbet by Ethique Limited | PledgeMe". www.pledgeme.co.nz. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  18. "A Christchurch-made range of solid shampoos and conditioners is turning heads". Stuff. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  19. "From being mad about science to going global: Sorbet Cosmetics' Brianne West tackles beauty bars, tanning and shampooing". Idealog. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  20. Leighton, Mara. "This eco-friendly startup was named New Zealand's most sustainable business — its solid shampoo and conditioner bars aim to reduce plastic waste". Business Insider. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  21. "Young Kiwi businesswoman tackles beauty industry's rubbish problem". Stuff. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  22. Mack, Ben (2 October 2017). "Ethique crowdfunds $500K in 90 minutes on PledgeMe". Idealog. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  23. Brianne West used her student loan to start the company that made her a million, Stuff, 7 December 2019
  24. Arboine, Niellah (2 April 2019). "The World's First Zero-Waste Beauty Brand Has Some Seriously Impressive Products". Bustle.
  25. Shaw, Aimee (27 September 2018). "Kiwi beauty brand Ethique signs deal to stock products in 420 Australian stores". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  26. "Welcome to Leaders: Asia-Pacific!". Obama Foundation. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  27. "Entrepreneur of the Year Award Winners 2020 | One Young World". www.oneyoungworld.com. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  28. "Kiwi zero-waste beauty brand Ethique scores major international investment deal". TVNZ. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  29. Carroll, Melanie (8 October 2020). "Payday for Ethique investors after deal signed with international backers". Stuff. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  30. Poi-Ngawhika, Tamara. "Ethique founder says stepping down 'positive and exciting'". businessdesk.co.nz. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  31. Morrison, Tina (14 April 2023). "Ethique founder Brianne West steps down as chief executive". Stuff. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  32. Deguara, Brittney (24 May 2019). "Beauty bars stop over 3 million plastic bottles entering landfill". Stuff. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  33. FNZ (5 October 2022). "The ethics of Ethique – and how a Kiwi brand saved 25 million plastic bottles". FashioNZ. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  34. "Entrepreneur Brianne West launches initiative to prevent start-up failures". RNZ. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  35. "The Press". www.thepress.co.nz. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  36. "It's Launch Day! Well of the podcast anyway | Caffeine | The daily for New Zealand's Startups". www.caffeinedaily.co. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  37. "2023 Kea World Class New Zealand Award Winner - Brianne West | Kea NZ". Kea New Zealand. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  38. "Hall of Fame 2023". Co.OfWomen. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  39. "Brianne West". Blake NZ. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  40. "Ethique Concentrates: The 100 Best Inventions of 2020". Time. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  41. "SBN Award winners revealed". FMCG Business. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  42. "2019 Winners". Women of Influence. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  43. "Ethique | Fast 50 2019 Results". Deloitte Fast50. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  44. "2019 Winners". www.westpacchampionawards.co.nz. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  45. "Five top Kiwi entrepreneurs honoured at EY Entrepreneur of Year awards". NZ Herald. NZ Herald. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  46. "UC alumna Brianne West and Ethique win Exporter of the Year award". Canterbury University. Canterbury University. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  47. "Regional Kiwibank Local Hero Medalists named". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  48. "Semi-finalists for 2018 New Zealander of the Year named". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  49. "Empowering Women Leaders to Advance Sustainable Development: The Global Ambassadors Program Heads to Australia October 3–7". Vital Voices. 5 February 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  50. "Changing Faces Women's Leadership Seminar". www.eastwestcenter.org. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  51. "Brianne West". www.ey.com. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  52. "Exceptional Entrepreneur: Brianne West". Deloitte Private. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  53. "Brianne West | The Global Ambassadors Program". www.global-ambassadors.org. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
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