The Sustainable Beauty Coalition (SBC) has announced three new co-chairs – Jo Chidley (Beauty Kitchen founder), Mark Smith (NATRUE director general) and Oriele Frank (Elemis co-founder) – who will lead the organization’s strategy for the next year.
The appointment of multiple co-chairs is due to the increased workload since forming the SBC and to ensure collaboration across industry with each co-chair having unique insights and expertise. The co-chairs will focus on driving systematic sustainability change within the beauty industry, spanning consumer, industry and policy challenges, across issues such as greenwashing, plastic waste and extended producer responsibility.
Commenting on her appointment, Chidley says: “The Sustainable Beauty Coalition is about working together on issues that matter. It is our prerogative to share, support and shape the future of our planet through collective action and amplify our impact from all corners of the industry. I’m excited to be co-chair working alongside people who inspire me every day.”
Frank adds: “The UN say this is The Decade of Action, with calls for accelerating sustainable solutions for all of the world’s biggest challenges. As co-chair of the Sustainable Beauty Coalition, I will work to ensure the beauty industry is uniting to help drive change across all sectors. It’s about progress not perfection.”
“I have been representing NATRUE on the Sustainable Beauty Coalition Steering Committee since 2021,” remarks Mark Smith. “Collaboration is key, so I am delighted to be promoted to co-chair to share leadership of the coalition with my esteemed colleagues, Jo and Oriele. We will continue our work with a wide range of stakeholders – to inform, engage and most importantly champion change.”
The co-chairs take over from founding SBC chair Jayn Sterland, Weleda UK MD, who has now been appointed as pillar president for environmental, social and governance.
with the expertise of a knowledgeable Steering Committee plus the passionate support of our Advisory Committee, the SBC has truly found its voice
“As my two-year tenure as chair of the Sustainable Beauty Coalition draws to a close, it is encouraging to look back and see how, in those two years, and with the expertise of a knowledgeable Steering Committee plus the passionate support of our Advisory Committee, the SBC has truly found its voice. Thanks to the team, there has been significant progress but there’s still much to be done, in an industry that is often resistant to change – birthing a new sustainable, future-proof beauty industry can be a laborious and at times painful process, but essential to our continued evolution.
“As I pass on the SBC baton, I look forward to my new role as ESG pillar president supporting the British Beauty Council on environmental, social and governance issues including the industry’s impact on the planet (environment), on people (social) via our relationships with employees, suppliers and customers, and the impact of leadership (governance). Our aim is to push for industrywide adoption of environmental regulations, bring an end to greenwashing claims, ensure inclusivity and diversity across all sectors, and shine a spotlight on the valuable part that beauty plays in wellness.”
