The Natural and Organic Health and Beauty Alliance (NOHBA) launched earlier this month at the Expo West event in Anaheim, California, where the organization was targeting the recruitment of new membership and volunteers to add to the team.
Established with the aim of providing a collective voice for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumer advocates of natural and/or organic cosmetics, personal care, home care, and home use products, the organization is headed up by prominent players in the industry.
Check out the website...
To support the launch, a comprehensive website describes the organization’s mission as well as providing an information resource for future events and news concerning the industry.
The board includes Curt Valva as the executive director, who is also founder of Sunstate Natural Products Consultants, and Gay Timmons as president, who is the founder of Oh, Oh Organic, an ingredient distributor focused on sustainability.
Other board members include vice president: Ashley Prange, who is CEO of au Naturale Cosmetics; treasurer: Worth Turner, president of Colorado Quality Products; secretary: David Karpick, corporate and brand strategist; and three board members: Tara Foley, founder and CEO of Follain, Rebecca Hamilton, co-owner and VP of R&D at W.S. Badger, and Michael Cronin, executive at EO Products.
"A Collective voice"
“Our alliance believes there is a strong and immediate need for a collective voice and improved resource sharing in the natural and organic personal & home care products industry,” said Timmons.
“Our immediate goals include: establishment of “Best Practices”, education & cooperation that addresses supply chain, and a voice in Washington DC.”
But while the organization makes it clear that it is there to support natural and organic players, its aim is to bring clarity on the subject of certification and industry standards, rather than joining in on an area that is already crowded.
Not in the business of certification
“We will not have a standard nor will we certify. This is a true Trade Association that will represent the needs of the industry. We will establish and share “Best Practices”. We will also provide the opportunity for our members to attend on-line webinars about the various certifiers and Standards,” said Timmons.
“We have planned to create a consumer facing activity dedicated to resolving some of the conflicts and questions about the category.”
Looking to the future evolution of the organization, Timmons added that the board would like to see membership grow and to launch an industry event to represent both its members and the industry as a whole.