Sephora Founded in 2016, Sephora Accelerate is a long-standing brand incubator program, launched with the intent of cultivating a community of innovative, inspirational founders in beauty. In early 2021, Sephora revamped the program to focus on brand founders of color, as part of its larger commitment to equity across all areas of the business and the 15 Percent Pledge. Now in its ninth year, the 2024 Accelerate cohort includes eight BIPOC beauty brands spanning the haircare, makeup, skincare and fragrance categories.NOMINEE : Carolyn Bojanowski, EVP, Merchandising, U.S., SephoraRESULTS : Through the Accelerate program, founders embark on a six-month journey featuring a robust curriculum, mentorship, merchandising support, potential funding and investor connections to all participants – as well as having the opportunity to launch at Sephora upon completion of the program. Applications for Sephora Accelerate 2025 will open in the Fall of 2024.
Patagonia Patagonia joins the campaign for a Safe and Healthy California. With a $500,000 donation, the outdoor brand aims to protect Californians from oil and gas drilling. This initiative is crucial for Ventura, Patagonia's hometown, where thousands live near oil wells. Patagonia's involvement underscores its ongoing commitment to environmental protection and community well-being.NOMINEE : Claire Goodrich, Director, Digital Activism and Campaigns, PatagoniaRESULTS : In the last five years, Patagonia has contributed over $16 million to support environmental justice initiatives. Profits not reinvested into the business are directed towards protecting the planet through dividends. This innovative approach demonstrates Patagonia's commitment to using its financial resources to drive positive environmental change and significantly boosts brand awareness. As Patagonia visibly prioritizes environmental protection alongside business profitability, it continues to achieve tangible results in its mission to create a more sustainable future, enhancing its reputation as a leader in corporate responsibility.
J.Crew J.Crew unveils J.Crew Always and SuperCircle programs to help consumers give clothing new life. At J.Crew, they believe in forever fashion, not fast fashion. That’s why they've always designed clothes to be handed down – and around – and to live in closets for decades. In January 2023, the J.Crew brand launched J.Crew Always, which encompasses their resale program, curated vintage and now their newest swim take-back and recycling program, Second-life Swim, in partnership with SuperCircle. SuperCircle has the ability to facilitate fiber-to-fiber recycling where possible, which is particularly challenging with swimwear. Customers have the option to mail back or drop off any unwanted swimwear, men’s, women’s or children’s from any brand to receive a J.Crew credit for a J.Crew swimwear purchase.NOMINEE: Lisa Greenwald, Chief Merchandising Officer, J.CrewRESULTS: Since launching in February 2024, J.Crew has collected thousands of swimsuits that will avoid going to landfill and hopes to avoid thousands more.
Saalt Saalt prioritizes menstrual care accessibility for all as part of its ongoing mission. As a B Corp, the company dedicates 2% of its total revenues to supporting individuals in need by providing period care products, education, and funding for schooling. Furthermore, Saalt's impact extends globally, with donations exceeding 100,000 period cups and underwear distributed across over 50 countries. In 2023, the brand actively participated in the Tampon Taxback Coalition, advocating to remove the "pink tax" on feminine care products. Saalt is also the first period care brand to certify as Plastic Negative with repurpose Global, which means we remove twice as much plastic from the environment as is produced in our supply chain. These initiatives underscore Saalt's dedication to promoting menstrual equity and empowering communities worldwide.NOMINEE: Cherie Hoeger, CEO & Co-founder, SaaltRESULTS: In 2023, Saalt achieved a significant milestone in its impact program by donating 100,000 Saalt products across 50 countries, marking its largest donation to date. The company also partnered with The Flow to provide an inaugural donation of 250 cups, further expanding its reach. Saalt's unwavering commitment to combating period poverty was evident as it dedicated a substantial portion of its impact efforts to address this issue in US schools. Furthermore, over 100 community members in Brazil and Honduras received menstrual health education, Saalt products and ongoing support, exemplifying the brand's holistic approach to menstrual equity initiatives.
Babymoov Babymoov Group launches an in-house refurbished program, offering second-hand products on their DTC website. This initiative focuses on refurbishing Babymoov's popular electronic products like food processors, baby monitors, and humidifiers at their warehouse before reselling them online. By successfully promoting this program to its target audience, Babymoov made it financially profitable and demonstrated its commitment to sustainability through its Greenmoov initiatives. This program underscores Babymoov's dedication to innovation and making parenting easier while caring for future generations.NOMINEE: Chloe Neyrial, Director of E-Commerce, Babymoov Group
