L’Oréal unveils bold sustainability targets for2030

The new sustainability programme, called ‘L’Oréal for the future’, lays down L’Oréal’s latest set of ambitions for 2030. The group is accelerating its transformation towards a model that respects planetary boundaries and reinforces its commitments to sustainability and inclusion.

Jean-Paul Agon, chairman and CEO of L’Oréal, explains: “L’Oréal’s sustainable revolution is entering a new era. The challenges the planet is facing are unprecedented. It is essential to accelerate our efforts to preserve a safe operating space for humanity.

We do so in our own business operations and in our contribution to the society at large. We know that the biggest challenges are yet to come, so L’Oréal will stay faithful to its ambition to operate within the limits of the planet.”

Planetary boundaries are limits that, if crossed, will compromise the Earth’s capacity as a habitat for human development. Respecting a safe operating space for humanity must be a priority in the decades to come – and scientists unanimously agree. This is why L’Oréal aims to transition to a way of operating its entire business within the limits of the planet.

The Group has defined new quantifiable targets for 2030, to fight climate change as supported by the Science Based Targets initiative. It is also going one-step further by addressing three other major environmental issues: 1. preservation of biodiversity 2. sustainable water management 3. circular use of resources.

“Over the past decade, we have profoundly transformed our company, putting sustainability at the very core of our business model. With our new commitments, we are entering a new phase of acceleration of that transformation – going beyond our direct environmental impact, helping consumers to make more sustainable choices, as well as generating positive social and environmental contribution.

As an industry leader, we consider it our role to contribute to building an inclusive and sustainable society,” says Alexandra Palt, L’Oréal’s chief corporate responsibility officer.

Did you know?

By 2030, 100% of employees of L’Oréal’s strategic suppliers’ will be paid at least a living wage, covering their basic needs and those of their dependents, calculated in line with best practices.

We consider it our role to contribute to building an inclusive and sustainable society

BETTER CHOICES FOR CONSUMERS

Alongside the group’s in-depth transformation process, it wants to inspire customers to also take action with us. The more everyone knows, the better they can act – which is why an important part of achieving sustainability is accurately assessing the impact of products and acting to reduce that impact. L’Oréal wants to share this information with consumers so they can make informed, sustainable choices too.

People are willing to do their part for the environment by making sustainable product choices. To make these choices, transparency is key. This is why L’Oréal developed a product impact labelling system to inform 15 billion consumers of the environmental and social impact of their products. The labelling will include a score on a scale from A to E, with A considered best-in-class in terms of environmental impact. The method has been endorsed by independent scientific experts and data has been verified by Bureau Veritas, an independent auditor. The labels and scores will be accessible on the websites of the respective brands and products.

In addition to this information, L’Oréal will share details about the manufacturing conditions and packaging profile of each product. The labelling will also display key information regarding a product’s social impact, including compliance by raw materials and packaging suppliers with the fundamental principles of the United Nations on labour standards and the number of suppliers committed to social inclusion and having contributed to the product, if any.

Garnier is the first brand to implement the new methodology for its hair care products. This labelling will progressively be extended to other countries and other L’Oréal brands and product categories. By 2022, this labelling system will apply to all the Group’s rinse-off products, except travel sizes. By 2030, 100% of our products will be ecodesigned.

A CLOSER LOOK AT L’ORÉAL’S TARGETS:

• By 2025, all of L’Oréal’s sites will have achieved carbon neutrality by improving energy efficiency and using 100% renewable energy.

• By 2030, 100% of the plastics used in the packaging of L’Oréal’s products will be either from recycled or biobased sources.

• By 2030, L’Oréal will reduce by 50% per finished product, its entire greenhouse gas emissions – compared to 2016.

• The group is allocating €150 million to address urgent social and environmental issues.

ADDRESSING SOCIAL ISSUES

L’Oréal announced in May 2020 that it will allocate €150 million to address urgent social and environmental issues.

The group is engaging €100 million into impact investing to act upon key environmental challenges. €50 million will be used to finance damaged natural marine and forest ecosystems restoration projects through a fund called the L’Oréal Fund for Nature Regeneration, to be operated by Mirova.3 Another €50 million will be directed to financing projects linked to the circular economy.

To help vulnerable women, the group is also creating a €50 million charitable endowment fund. This will support field organisations and charities in their efforts to fight poverty, help women achieve social and professional integration, provide emergency assistance to refugee and disabled women, prevent violence against women and support victims.

Through this in-depth transformation, L’Oréal hopes to be a catalyst of change in the beauty industry and beyond, inspiring its customers and people worldwide to take action with the group. •