L’Oréal Paris: Sustainable Initiatives To Preserve Our Planet because our planet is worth it
On April 22nd 2021, L’Oréal Paris announced its sustainability program, “L’Oréal For the Future, Because our Planet is Worth it”, initiating the brand’s latest set of ambitions for 2030.
Building on its achievements to date and aligned with the ambition of the L’Oréal Group, L’Oréal Paris will now embrace the ambitious mission of reducing its carbon footprint by 50% per finished product. It will also contribute 10 million Euros to environmental projects whose beneficiaries are communities of women around the world.
Conscious of its impact, L'Oréal Paris has fully reviewed its value chain to continue offering effective and safe products, while respect planetary boundaries. From formulas to packaging, from in-plant manufacturing processes to consumer awareness, and partnerships with producers, every part of the value chain has been analysed, measured and improved. The sustainability program is based on 4 principles: optimizing packaging to accelerate the shift to a circular economy, using the same products with more eco-friendly formulas, producing beauty respectful of the environment, and investing in environmental projects through programs that empower women.
• Reducing the weight of our products
To help conserve natural resources and reduce the carbon footprint of products, the brand is working to reduce the weight of packaging. For example, it lowered the weight of the aluminum used in the L’Oréal Paris Men Expert Carbon Protect Aerosol by -5.1 grams per bottle, representing 135 tons of aluminum saved annually.
Also, by reducing the weight of the Revitalift jar, L’Oréal Paris reduced the use of glass for this product by 11 grams per jar, saving 434 tons of glass annually. Furthermore, the weight of boxes and instructions for hair color ranges have been reduced, representing an important saving of paper every year.
By 2030, the brand will reduce by 20% in intensity the quantity of packaging. This economy of materials represents a significate optimization of weight and space in transport, contributing to reduce carbon emissions due to transportation.
• Using 100% recycled plastic
L’Oréal Paris is working on accelerating the shift to a circular economy, where materials are kept in use for as long as possible, by optimizing packaging recyclability, striving to conserve resources and prevent plastic pollution.
This includes using more recycled content in packaging, with the objective of reaching 100% recycled or biobased plastic by 2030 (or 0 virgin plastic).
• Embodying change: Elvive
Since 2020, the iconic L’Oréal Paris hair care range, Elvive (with over 235 million bottles produced), has undertaken a major transformation by targeting 100% recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) for shampoo and conditioner bottles in Europe.
• Engaging consumers
To seek alternatives to single use packaging and propose refill or reuse systems while engaging consumers, L’Oréal Paris will join LOOP initiative and take part in a project to trial new types of durable packaging. The new shampoo and conditioner packaging will be made of aluminum, and sold with a deposit, on the retailer’s website. After using the products, consumers will be able to return the packaging to the retailer that will collect and return the packaging to L’Oréal Paris for cleaning and refiling.
“Now is the time to reconcile innovation, sustainability and progress, to make the shift to a circular economy and to reduce the impact of our products.”
Delphine Viguier-Hovasse, Global Brand President of L’Oréal Paris
2. Same products with more eco-friendly formulas
To reduce its environmental impact, the brand is improving the biodegradability of their formulas and reducing their water footprint. Among the products launched in 2019, Elvive Full Resist Power Mask and Men Expert Shaving Barber Club Crème de Rasage have levels of biodegradability exceeding 94% (97% and 94% respectively).
Furthermore, to address a more conscious use of water during use phase (which represents 50% of the CO2 footprint of the brand, linked with heating the water for rinsing products) and help reduce the time needed in the shower, the brand also develops formulas that need less water to be rinsed (e.g. More than Shampoo), as well as new beauty routines that require less rinsing steps (two-in-one products or non-rinse haircare treatments such as Dream Lengths Management).
76%
of the PET plastic is made of recycled plastic
100%
of L’Oréal Paris’ renewable and mineral raw materials will be sustainably sourced by 2030
-50%
CO2 emissions per product by 2030, compared to 2016
3. Producing beauty respectful of the environment
L’Oréal Paris factories continue their ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions, water consumption and waste generation. Between 2005 and 2020, L’Oréal Paris factories and distribution centres have reduced CO2 emissions by 82%, water consumption by 44%, and waste generation by 35%.
Today L’Oréal Paris products are made in 26 factories around the world. Eleven of them are already carbon neutral (using 100% renewable energy, without offsetting) and the remaining ones will reach this goal in 2025.
4. Investing in environmental projects through programs that empower women
As women are the primary victims of climate change, L'Oréal Paris will invest €10 million in a series of 6 carbon projects whose beneficiaries are communities of women around the world. Along with financial support, L’Oréal Paris will also develop specific programs that encourage a greater inclusion of women in leadership of these projects. In Honduras for example, where local indigenous communities protect and restore mangroves, the brand will support a project managed by a cooperative of women who will receive support and education.
“We are not starting from scratch. There is still much work to be done but we will remain strong in our resolve to make a difference and play our part in this race against climate change. L’Oréal Paris has a significant role to play being the number one beauty brand of the world, it gives us the power and the duty to make positive changes.”
Delphine Viguier-Hovasse, Global Brand President of L’Oréal Paris