Meet Mel Bandler, a champion for sustainability, whose journey weaves through the intersections of corporate responsibility and personal commitment. As the Sustainable Sourcing Manager at Bath & Body Works, she partners cross-functionally to build supply chain resilience with a focus on positive impacts for both communities and ecosystems.

Her mission? To take sustainability out of an ivory tower and make it tangible from C-suite to everyday consumer(s). Sustainability shouldn’t be an elusive silo, everyone can be a sustainability champion! 

Mel blends her expertise and heart, striving to revolutionize how businesses interact with our planet and its people. Most of her career has been spent building supply chain partnerships that transform supplier engagement: infusing it with a sense of purpose that transcends traditional practices.

Her journey took root in grocery retail, where she spearheaded initiatives to expand responsible sourcing. Her climate curiousity then led her to Estee Lauder Companies, where she played a pivotal role in developing supplier engagement and training programs, particularly focusing on the nuanced complexities of scope 3 emissions.

The foundation of her professional triumphs is the academic rigor and cultural depth she brings to the table. She graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University with degrees in Public Health and French. This unique blend of knowledge enables her to approach sustainability from a holistic perspective, understanding its impact on both global and community well-being.

Mel Bandler isn’t just a sustainable sourcing expert; she’s a storyteller, a trailblazer, and a connoisseur of life, dedicated to making sustainability not just a corporate agenda, but a universally accessible and engaging narrative.