Richard Welch is the founder of Utu, an innovative new line of clean SPF skincare
formulated for outdoor lovers and designed to protect, nourish, and rejuvenate the
skin, while actively restoring the earth through responsible sourcing and plastic-free
packaging.
Welch, an outdoors and nature enthusiast who was born and raised in the United
Kingdom, credits long, hot summers spent in the English countryside as sparking his
deep passion and love of the outdoors.
A veteran brand strategist, Welch has worked with numerous brands including Tom
Ford, Nokia, Estee Lauder, Axe, Diesel, REN, and The North Face. In the summer of
2020, while rafting the Deschutes River during harsh wildfire conditions, Welch came
across an eddy brimming with plastic. That moment catalyzed Welch to change
course and explore merging his personal passions and professional skills into a wholly
new pursuit that was more in harmony with the natural world he so loves. The idea for
Utu was born.
Utu’s mission is to protect, nourish, and rejuvenate the skin and planet, while
ultimately nurturing people’s connection to nature, a deeply held belief Welch feels is
essential for humanity and the planet to survive and thrive. The brand’s range of
premium advanced SPF skincare offers clean, efficacious sun protection and skin
nourishment engineered for a range of outdoor conditions – from high alpine to surf
break and includes a broad spectrum SPF30 Moisturizing Sunscreen, as well as a
performance-ready broad spectrum refillable SPF50 tinted Sunscreen-Stick. The Utu
product array is completely non-toxic, chemical-free, water-resistant, reef-safe,
cruelty-free, aquatic-friendly, USDA Biobased, and developed with the planet in mind
at every step, featuring 100% recyclable aluminum packaging and zero plastic
alongside refillable product options.
Welch is an LGBTQ+ business owner and member of Founded Outdoors, an active
community of entrepreneurs dedicated to breaking down barriers to access in the
outdoors industry. Welch resides in Los Angeles with his partner, Joe, and their dog,
Claudio. When he’s not working on Utu, he spends his free time skiing, hiking, sailing
and rafting.
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