Linds and Katie

Beauty Products for the Environmentally Conscious

C0E1 4128

Authors

Anson Huynh

Anson Huynh

Troy LaCoste

Troy LaCoste

Ladan Ataollahi

Ladan Ataollahi

Heather McGuckin

Heather McGuckin

Tabitha Davis

Tabitha Davis

School

University of Guelph

University of Guelph

Professor

Ruben Burga

Ruben Burga

Global Goals

3. Good Health and Well-Being 12. Responsible Consumption and Production

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Summary

Linds and Katie are student innovators from Guelph who have created a new product line and brand to implement within the health and beauty market. They create personal care products focused on responsible consumption and production, and place a strong focus on educating and promoting healthy living.

Innovation

Linds and Katie provide innovative health care and beauty products that contribute to their consumers personal care routines. They strive to inform and educate shoppers about how to responsibly reduce their waste and promote a healthy lifestyle through the sales of their health and environmentally conscious products.

Linds and Katie put an unconventional twist on everyday personal care products. They sell an assortment of products that are catered to a niche market of consumers. One example of their innovative products is their face wash which is made with oatmeal instead of chemical soap. The idea behind it is to create products that are environmentally friendly and free from harmful chemicals and preservatives that are commonly found in big brand name health and beauty products. Despite the obstacle of having to find ingredients that work effectively together, they have mastered the task to create a line of impressive products with specific and powerful uses. The primary goal of their products is to create a line of health and beauty supplies that can be trusted to be natural and produced with environmentally conscious materials. They achieve this goal through ensuring that their packaging ranges from reusable glass containers to paper pouches that allow for the package to be easily recycled. Even though their product costs are slightly higher with this packaging factor the end benefit is much greater than the costs they endure. Consumers appreciate the extra effort that is put into their product development and packaging design when they know their purchases contribute to a sustainable product line. Through their conscious packaging, they are able to promote sustainability and encourage consumers to take responsibility for the waste they produce. The time and effort spent on each individual product available on Linds and Katie online platform allows them to be successful from a business standpoint while also successfully inspiring and encouraging people to be more conscious of their health, societal, and environmental impact.

Beauty Products for the Environmentally Conscious

Inspiration

The inspiration for beginning such an innovative product line and brand originated from the idea that consumers were commonly unaware of the ingredients and chemicals that were being put into and onto their bodies through health and beauty supplies. The lack of consumer knowledge on current products in the marketplace was made evident through the conduction of a University of Guelph Product Development class assignment. Through these findings, the partners developed a desire to capitalize on the business opportunity to create natural and environmentally friendly health and beauty products.

Both Linds and Katie have always had an interest in natural wellness products. Their undergraduate experience studying Nutraceutical Science, has provided them with prior knowledge of health maintenance, making them suitable candidates to create reliable products that consumers can trust. As their passion for the health and beauty industry further, they continue to develop more innovative products to enhance the healthy lives of their consumers. Their inspiration has advanced and matured since they began their journey and they continue to find new inspiration in their everyday lives, which is to fulfill the needs of their target demographic.

Overall impact

Linds and Katie built their business on the foundation of responsible consumption and production and to educate to the masses on healthy living.

Linds and Katie are both passionate about their product outcomes. As stated by one of their customers, “naturally derived and cruelty-free, Linds & Katie are the perfect brand to buy from as they too keep this in mind while creating their products. I look forward to the future products this brand has to offer”. Their consumer reviews demonstrate the level of satisfaction their consumers feel, and the likelihood that they will return for new innovative products in the near future. By finding new and innovative recipes and with the idea of focusing on sustainable production they have impacted the lives they interact with.

Their products are all environmentally friendly, from the packaging to the ingredients of the product itself. They have reduced their waste in product packaging which helps to give peace of mind to the consumer that all of their products are safer for bodily use and conscious for the environment. By creating chemical free products, their brand allows for healthier and happier customers, while contributing to the greater good of the environment and society.

Business benefit

Linds and Katie bring a new purchase option to the market for conscious consumers. When shopping for products from Linds and Katie, they ensure that consumers know what natural ingredients are used to make their supplies. This is a product development that fills a niche segment of individuals who are looking to use natural products and want to contribute to an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Their business brings a new twist to common beauty products which ultimately places them in a new market segment. They have successfully been able to reach out to this market segment and become a strong competitor in the market.

Social and environmental benefit

Linds and Katie ensure that their product line contributes to an overall positive social and environmental impact. They have an ultimate goal to inspire consumers to make a lifestyle change. They also aspire to make conscious consumerism a mainstream ideal through the preparation of educational videos and transparent labeling. The brand’s current and future production aspirations contribute to the overall well- being of society and the environment in the sense that it encourages consumers to be more conscious about what they use on their body and skin, as well as the carbon footprint they leave.

Interview

Katie Costa, Co-Founder

Photo of interviewee

Business information

Linds and Katie

Linds and Katie

Guelph, ON, CA
Business Website: https://www.lindsandkatie.ca/
Year Founded: 2017
Number of Employees: 2 to 10
Linds and Katie are student innovators from Guelph, who have created a new product line and brand, to implement within the health and beauty market. They create personal care products focused on responsible consumption and production, as well as placing a strong focus on educating and promoting healthy living.