Gaëlle Chatelard took out a £25,000 loan in August 2021 through delivery partner Virgin StartUp to help get her brand ETHOSA off the ground. ETHOSA is an innovative sustainable waterless personal care brand.
Founder Gaëlle decided to launch her company after working closely with the beauty and personal care industry and witnessing the terrible impact this industry has on the planet. While the initial concept was inspired by the hotel industry to tackle the immense waste generated by miniature plastic toiletries filled with up to 95% water, the brand was first launched DTC and is planning to enter the hospitality industry shortly.
ETHOSA brings a new proposition to the front of consumers, and therefore the brand has been focusing a lot on education to help customers understand what waterless is and why it is the only way forward. The brand was also part of the first Amazon Sustainability Accelerator which helps successful businesses to expand their reach and grow.
All ETHOSA’s packaging is refillable, recyclable and/or compostable. Gaëlle is passionate about Sustainability. She is keen that the brand is completely transparent about the ingredients in her products, has developed a partnership with a beehive charity and is looking into implementing further partnerships with charities.
Gaëlle’s advice for budding entrepreneurs looking to start their own business is:
“You need to keep your feet on the ground and be realistic. You may have a great product that solves many problems, but you still need to push boundaries daily. It takes a lot of work, and commitment and you need to be prepared.”
Find out more about ETHOSA online
