Alesia Lau-Hall, Founder and Master Crafter of Sea Witch Botanicals
Sea Witch Botanicals, a home and body company, is a certified B Corp and 1% for the Planet member and, as such, pays its employees a livable wage, diverts 80 percent of its waste to reuse or recycling, and only sources vegan and plant-based ingredients. The company aims to protect waterways by educating the public of the damaging effects of synthetic fragrances.
In what ways is your business considered eco-friendly? We create vegan and plant-based products. Our vegan initiatives help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by circumventing animal byproducts, all while helping to mitigate animal suffering in agriculture. While vegan products are helpful to animals, most of them are ridden with plastics and synthetic fillers. But not us! We take pains to only source plant-based ingredients and offer them at a reasonable price so everyone can have access to the “natural living” movement.
What inspired you to become an eco-minded entrepreneur? When I learned about the damaging effects of synthetic fragrances, I had to jump into action! I saw the lack of regulation in use and disposal of fragrances, and researched more about the carcinogenic impacts of these unregulated endocrine disruptors. Growing up in Washington, I had always had access to nature. That “Vitamin N” is missing from so many people’s lives, causing stress and a feeling of disconnection from the planet. If we are able to inspire people to treat the planet, and themselves, with a little more compassion, well, we’re happy with that overall result.
For readers who want to be more eco-conscious in their everyday lives, what do you recommend?
Enriching your life through nature: Vitamin N by Richard Louv
Education about synthetic fragrances: The Case Against Fragrance by Kate Grenville
Connecting with nature and the self: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
What are your long-term goals for Sea Witch Botanicals and its impact? We want to take care of our employees, our planet and our bodies. A healthy planet is possible when humans feel safe and healthy. As we say, “Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Planet.” While we love this business and our supporters, we have grand ideas of opening a bird sanctuary, caring for a kelp farm, and giving land back to Indigenous groups for safe keeping.