JESSICA ALBA: Her Billion Dollar Business Wants to Make the World a Safer Place

Alba came into prominence in 2000 when she was cast as the lead in Dark Angel. She was quick to become a household name, appearing in everything from Sin City and Good Luck Chuck to Fantastic Four and Little Fockers. In her 20s, acting was her priority until she met Cash Warren and became pregnant with their first child in 2008. After trying out a laundry detergent that her mother recommended at her baby shower, Alba experienced an allergic reaction, which prompted her to begin researching what may have caused it.

“I discovered that there are lots of chronic illnesses, from allergies and asthma to cancers and learning disabilities, that are linked to toxic chemicals in our environment,” says the star. “They are in everything from cleaning supplies to mattresses to paint to beauty products and feminine care and diapers and wipes. I was horrified. I was bringing a new little person into the world!” Alba attempted to shop for safe household products but couldn’t find a solution, so she took matters into her own hands. “I had this idea of this healthy lifestyle company that was honest and transparent, had safe ingredients, products that actually worked,” she explains. “And, really more than all of that, provides education. What is this certain chemical? Is it good? Is it not? What is all the noise about? Is it actually linked to an illness?” The budding entrepreneur enlisted the help of Christopher Gavigan, then CEO of a nonprofit called Healthy Child Healthy World, to make her vision a reality. The duo wrangled power lawyer Brian Lee, who signed on Sean Kane as the COO, and together the foursome launched the Honest Company in 2011.

Today, Alba finds herself running a $1.7 billion operation, bigger than fellow celeb-based lifestyle sites like Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop or Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James. But as with any big company, it’s not without controversy. Last September, a consumer named Jonathan D. Rubin filed a $5 million class action suit against the Honest Company saying that the brand’s sunscreen was “ineffective in preventing unhealthy exposure to harmful UV rays.” He also sought damages regarding the Honest Dish Soap, Honest Multi-Service Cleaner, Honest Hand Soap, and the company’s most sought after product, Honest Diapers. A second lawsuit filed later that month also claimed that the Honest Sunscreen did not protect against UV rays. Though she wouldn’t answer any questions about the pending litigation for this interview, Alba has gone on record to defend her company. “I created The Honest Company to give people access to safe and effective products and we are committed at The Honest Company to make sure that we use the safest and most effective ingredients,“ she told Good Morning America at the time. “We’re also committed to continue to educate our customers on how best to use our products.”