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L’Oreal
The Groupe has already reached several milestones in that mission, such as 100 of its industrial sites, including 25 factories, achieving carbon neutrality in 2021, and 67 percent of the PET plastic in its products being from recycled sources last year.
L’Oréal Middle East recently held its first inaugural L’Oréal For the Future Summit, alongside the recently concluded UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt to address global environmental challenges.
The Groupe launched ‘L’Oréal for the Future’ in 2020, the second phase of its sustainability program with a set of ambitions achievable by 2030, to be a catalyst for change in the beauty sector by leading the way in fighting climate change, measuring water sustainability, respecting biodiversity and preserving natural resources.
L’Oréal Groupe is also committed to achieving 100 percent carbon neutrality on all its sites by 2025 and recycling or reusing 100 percent of its industrial water and waste generated onsite by 2030.
Fully recycled plastics for packaging
By 2030, the Groupe will also move to 100 percent recycled or biobased plastics in its product packaging and reach the target of 100 percent refillable, reusable, recyclable or compostable plastic packaging.
The Groupe is also harnessing biotechnology through its Green Sciences program to create innovative, safe, and effective products for consumers that do not harm the planet. By 2030, 95 percent of the ingredients in its formula will be biobased and derived from abundant minerals or circular processes.
By the same year, the company will have moved to 100 percent biobased ingredients and packaging material that will be traceable and come from sustainable sources.
Crucial role
“While pivotal climate talks continue at COP27, as a world leader in the beauty industry, L’Oréal Groupe understands the crucial role we play in addressing global challenges. Actions speak louder
L’Oréal Middle East announces sustainability milestones and commitments at the 1st inaugural L’Oréal For The Future Summit.
than words and we began ours with a radical reinvention of our business and activities long ago with the mission to not only reduce our carbon footprint but set an example and create the path of sustainability for the sector,” affirmed Laurent Duffier, Managing Director-Middle East, L’Oréal.
“L’Oréal Groupe is heavily investing in research and biotechnology to create innovative products that do not harm the environment, while educating our partners and customers to make responsible choices. We have already achieved many of the sustainability milestones that are part of the ‘L’Oréal for the Future’ program and are confident that we will meet all our targets by 2030,” he continued.
L’Oréal Groupe has also been at the forefront of climate change action and responsible beauty in the Middle East with initiatives that positively impact the community, consumers, and employees.
Laurent Duffier, Managing Director, Middle East, LOreal.
L’Oréal works closely with partner salons to help them reduce their environmental impact by installing water saving innovations, such as the Gjosa showerhead that can save up to 65 percent water and encourages them to use recycled and recyclable material in their interiors.
Multiple CSR initiatives
L’Oréal Groupe has also been long committed to empowering women. In the region, we have launched several programs which includes delivering high-quality, free vocational training to help underprivileged women gain employment under the ‘Beauty for a better life’ initiative and the L’Oréal Paris Stand Up Against Street Harassment programme to create a space that supports women to empower and encourage each other as well as take charge in fighting for their place in this world.
The Groupe also encourages women to embrace scientific careers with the ‘L’OréalUNESCO For Women in Science’ program that recognizes exceptional scientists each year and grant them with endowments to purse their research.
Awards
In nine years, the Groupe has awarded 40 winners from the GCC. Moreover, it has partnered with two prominent NGOs in the region-Dubai Foundation for Women and Children and Shamsaha -under the L’Oréal Fund For Women, to support highly vulnerable women during the Covid-19 pandemic.
L’Oréal Middle East has also partnered WANDER POT to transform its Dubai headquarters into a first green office, creating the first-of-its-kind indoor plant nursery and ecosystem in the region. As part of the project, the two companies have also pledged to plant 1,000 trees locally and globally during the first year of their partnership.
L’Oréal Middle East has recently won two trophies at the Gulf Sustainability Awards for its sustainability and women empowerment campaigns in 2021. Garnier won bronze in the ‘Environmental Sustainability’ category for its recycling initiative where the brand has recycled 92 tons of waste in Saudi Arabia.
“At L’Oréal Groupe, we are committed to creating beauty that is responsible to protect the planet and to improve the lives of people. We have taken bold commitments to transform ourselves to respect planetary boundaries,” asserted Rohini Behl, Head of Sustainability—South Asia, Pacific, Middle East, North Africa,.
“We work closely with our partners; suppliers, customers, consumers, and employees to empower communities across the region with programs that educate and raise awareness on issues that we all need to tackle together. Moreover, through workshops and vocational training initiatives we aim to create more employment opportunities, and tools and support systems toward empowering women,” she concluded.
Agility invests US$ 163mn to build Jeddah Logistics Park in Saudi Arabia
Advanced warehousing complex boosts Saudi Arabia’s aim to be global logistics center
Agility recently confirmed it will build a large logistics park for storage and distribution near Jeddah as part of a land-concession agreement announced by the Saudi Arabia’s State Properties General Administration (SPGA).
Amajor, mega project at Jeddah-Al Mahjar in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia calls for construction of a modern warehousing complex on a 576,760sqm parcel south of Jeddah, starting in Q1-2023. The opening of the Agility Logistics Park – Jeddah is anticipated in Q1-2025.
Under the terms of its agreement with SPGA, Agility will invest SAR 611mn (US$ 163mn) to build the park and have the right to operate it for 25 years. Agility currently operates the Kingdom’s most advanced logistics parks—Agility Logistics Parks in Riyadh (870,000sqm) and Dammam (200,000sqm).
The announcement comes days after the Saudi government unveiled a sweeping plan to transform the Kingdom into a global logistics center as part of Saudi Arabia’s broad Vision 2030 strategy Saudi Arabia’s Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (GSCRI) is intended to attract US$ 11bn in fresh investment in its first two years and position the country as a key link in global supply chains through development of logistics and industrial infrastructure, economic cities, and green energy, innovation and manufacturing.
Efficient Management
“This step will help the SPGA pursue and achieve its strategic objective of efficient management of its real estate assets in a way that maximizes the benefits for the development of the economy,” asserted Ihsan Bafakih, Governor, SPGA.
“The SPGA is studying its real estate portfolio and working towards transforming its assets into lucrative investment opportunities by providing suitable property for sustainable, pioneering projects with private-sector partners,” he continued.
Bafakih stressed that initiatives such as the Agility facility in Jeddah offer an opportunity to enhance the contribution of the country’s real estate assets to GDP while increasing the value of the governmentheld property, developed infrastructure and sustainable buildings.
Agility officials said the park in Jeddah will serve international and local customers in the retail, consumer goods, technology, automotive, energy and e-commerce sectors.
The Agility-SPGA deal signing ceremony in Riyadh, KSA.
Accelerating Saudi economy
“Agility’s Jeddah complex will accelerate Saudi economic growth and make it easier for international and local companies to expand in the Kingdom,” affirmed Michel Saab, CEO, Agility Logistics Parks / Global Operations.
“Ultra-efficient warehousing and distribution are a huge competitive advantage. Companies operating from these parks shorten their time-to-market, reduce cost and risk, increase inventory turns and boost productivity,” he added.
Agility Logistics Parks are secure, connected, 24/7 complexes with Grade A, internationalstandard warehouses designed with advanced engineering and sustainability features. Agility recently received post-construction EDGEAdvanced certification (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) for a warehouse at its Riyadh Park. EDGE Advanced buildings are ‘zerocarbon ready’ structures that are at least 40% more energy efficient than others in the market.
The contract was signed by Hamza Al-Askar, Deputy SPGA Representative, and Maher Jaber Al Thabit, Vice President, Agility Logistics Parks, at the SPGA headquarters in Riyadh.
