11 February 2022 – Anthesis, the sustainability activator and the largest dedicated team of sustainability professionals globally, has appointed Lemis Tarajano Noya as Director and Product Sustainability Service Line leader for North America.
Reporting into Anthesis’ North America Sustainable Products, Packaging and Circularity Solution lead, Lisa Grice, Lemis will be responsible for developing and implementing product sustainability strategies for clients including conducting product baselines, identifying blue-sky innovation spaces, creating sustainable chemical policies and playbooks, and credentialling/badging sustainable products and initiatives.
Supporting clients as wide-ranging as Unilever and Target Corporation, Lemis will lead an experienced team of chemists, material scientists and product experts who guide organisations to improve the sustainability and circularity of their products and activities. The team of experts work with organizations to derive opportunities across the entire product lifecycle – from materials through to end of life – to reimagine and redefine how research and development are conducted.
During Lemis’ 15 years in the consumer goods industry, he has transformed dozens of formulations and packages to be more sustainable without compromising product performance, and while elevating the consumer experience and delivering profitable business models. Prior to joining Anthesis, Lemis was Director of Sustainable Innovation at The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Whilst there, Lemis created global innovation strategies and patented several new consumer-centric technologies to turn strategic ambitions into commercial realities with protected intellectual property. Such developments included innovative, flexible packaging designs such as the first paper-based, locally recyclable sample sachets, and increasing the use of post-consumer recycled content and Forest Stewardship Council certified shipping material from 50% to 95%. He also piloting new projects such as a zero-waste returnable shipping container.
“Coming from years of R&D experience bringing forward products that elevate the consumers experience while meeting both sustainability and commercial objectives, Lemis’ expertise deepens our ability to activate product sustainability from ideation to commercialization.”
Lisa Grice
Lead of Sustainable Products, Packaging and Circularity
Lemis’ experience in the beauty industry also spanned seven years at Procter & Gamble where he led Front End Formulation Development for cosmetics. His projects ranged from paraben substitution initiatives to creating new-to-the-world product architectures, leveraging novel lower footprint ingredients. He also led the Cosmetics Innovation team for the Americas at L’Oréal, where he initiated the launch of the first-ever foundation in a pouch, reducing plastic by one third, and commercialized new product designs in an array of categories.
On his appointment, Lemis says: “I am thrilled to join Anthesis’ global team of sustainability experts, all who are aligned on a common focus of driving impact. Our clients are at the intersection of positive global impact and business growth and I’m looking forward to supporting companies to ensure their product portfolios are addressing the needs of the environment and consumers alike.”
Lisa Grice, lead of the Sustainable Products, Packaging and Circularity Solution in North America, comments: “Coming from years of R&D experience, bringing forward products that elevate the consumers experience while meeting both sustainability and commercial objectives, Lemis’ expertise deepens our ability to activate product sustainability from ideation to commercialization.”
Chantelle Ludski, North America CEO, adds, “Lemis’ role as the lead of the North America Product Sustainability team signifies the choice of a distinguished technical expert to effect change in their field via Anthesis. In this role, Lemis will support leading brands to tackle the most pressing challenges in their product portfolio, and his guidance will shape innovation across a range of product functions. We’re proud to have Lemis at the helm of this important work in our North America business, allowing us to significantly move the dial towards real progress in this decisive decade.”
Lemis joins at a time when Anthesis is accelerating its attraction of top talent to meet continuously increasing market demand in this space. From reinventing the R&D process, helping to bring more sustainable products to market, and facilitating more circular business models, Anthesis is driving sustainable impact by helping our clients activate their sustainability ambitions.
