Shortly after Earth Day, L’Oreal published its 2018 Sharing Beauty with All sustainability programme Progress Report which highlights significant progress specifically regarding commitments to fight climate change.
Low carbon growth: a renewed performance
In 2018, L’Oreal reduced the carbon emissions of its plants and distribution centres by 77% in absolute terms compared to 2005, while increasing its production volume by 38% during the same period. This performance demonstrates the Group’s ability to achieve economic success while reducing environmental impact. In addition, by year-end, 38 of L’Oreal’s production sites achieved carbon neutrality.
The CDP has recognized these achievements. In 2018, and for the third consecutive year, L’Oreal is one of two companies among more than 3,000, to be awarded three ‘A’ ratings (i.e., the highest rating) by the CDP in three major areas: climate protection, sustainable water management and fighting against deforestation. L’Oreal is the only company in the world to have received this triple distinction from the CDP, three years in a row.
“Climate change is a major concern for the world, and its consequences call for urgent action. The L’Oreal Group aims to play a leading role in driving efforts to meet this challenge,” says Alexandra Palt, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer L’Oreal. “Companies need to get involved, and we should be judged on the merits of our actions and results.”
Brands take action
L’Oreal encourages its brands to raise awareness and mobilize partners, customers and consumers on major environmental and social issues. As part of the Sharing Beauty with All programme, brands identify a specific cause and run awareness campaigns. In 2018, more than half of the Group’s brands (57%) took action including Giorgio Armani Beauty, Biolage, Biotherm, Garnier, La Roche-Posay, and Ralph Lauren Fragrances.
SPOT evaluation tool: a first in the cosmetics industry
The Sustainable Product Optimisation Tool (SPOT), deployed across all the Group’s brands, is a first in the cosmetics industry. Since 2014, L’Oreal teams, with the support of international experts, have developed a methodology to measure the environmental and social performance of a product and identify levers for improvement.
SPOT is also instrumental in achieving L’Oreal’s goal of improving the social or environmental profile of 100% of new products by the end of 2020. In 2018, 100% of all new or renovated products — i.e. 2,195 products — underwent SPOT assessment, and 79% of the products launched during the year were improved.
Download the report and access the 2018 results: click here
About Sharing Beauty with All
The Sharing Beauty with All sustainability programme was launched in 2013. Integrated all across the Group’s value chain, it embodies L’Oreal’s commitments to sustainability by the end of 2020. All aspects of its environmental footprint are addressed, from product design to distribution, including the production process and the sourcing of ingredients. Each year, L’Oreal reports on its progress in a way that is measurable and transparent. Today, the Group is one of the world’s most-recognised companies when it comes to its strong ambition and commitment toward sustainability.
About L’Oreal
L’Oreal has devoted itself to beauty for over 100 years. With its unique international portfolio of 36 diverse and complementary brands, the Group generated sales amounting to 26.9 billion euros in 2018 and employs 86,000 people worldwide. As the world’s leading beauty company, L’Oreal is present across all distribution networks: mass market, department stores, pharmacies and drugstores, hair salons, travel retail, branded retail and e-commerce. Research and innovation, and a dedicated research team of 3,993 people, are at the core of L’Oreal’s strategy, working to meet beauty aspirations all over the world.