Elly Van Der Heyden

Supporting the global product stewardship and sustainability team as an independent contractor with the function of sustainability manager. My main responsibilities included aligning global teams, implementing tools to support clean product innovation, and integrating sustainability frameworks into the product lifecycle. Led cross-functional teams globally to drive compliance and integrate eco-conscious strategies into product design. Key contributor in development and digitization of the Clean Ingredients Tool, integrating retailer sustainability requirements, increasing online revenue by 20%. Conducted lifecycle assessments (LCAs) using SimaPro, measuring and reducing environmental impacts across global product portfolios. Established sustainability KPIs for product development, ensuring proactive alignment with upcoming EU regulations and reducing substances of concern. Key contributor to Sanofi's ambition of becoming the first clean FMCH company globally, enhancing its market competitiveness and reputation.

Founded and scaled a clean, sustainable skincare brand offering allergen-free formulations, water-free products, and eco-conscious packaging. Built a retail presence in 20 stores across 4 countries, and serving a online customer base. Developed and launched six products, including two water-free skincare products (cleanser and oil), a moisturizer with biobased packaging, and three skincare tools, reducing CO₂ emissions and waste, setting new standards for sustainability in the skincare industry. Managed all facets of the business, including R&D, sourcing, marketing, and sales, while collaborating with external partners for branding and manufacturing. Received multiple awards, including the Future 5 Award, Lejon Award, and Free From Skincare Awards 2024 for innovation and achievement in clean beauty.

Contributed to Total Energies' digital transformation efforts by leading the cross-functional teams to optimize customer journeys and launch a new, improved platform. Streamlined requirements with internal and external stakeholders to enhance user experience and functionality. Led the transition to an upgraded platform with a team of 8 people in an agile set-up to enhance usability and functionality. Key contributor in testing and refining app and webapp functionality by identifying bugs, missing translations, and opportunities for new features, creating tickets in Jira and collaborating with developers, UX designers, copywriters, and marketing agencies. Conducted data analysis on customer feedback to make improvements and ensure a seamless user experience. Designed comprehensive sitemaps and customer journeys, addressing pain points and simplifying processes such as account creation, login flows, and email communications.