L’Oréal Luxe is actively committed to sustainability

Innovative refillable bottles reduce environmental impact

In all categories—fragrance, skincare and makeup—the brands have stepped up innovation and creativity to develop bottles that are appealing, high-quality and more sustainable. Mugler, which is a pioneer in the field, has been following this approach since 1992 with its Fountains: Alien, Angel and Angel Nova bottles can be refilled at any of the 10,000 points of sale equipped with the system worldwide. The initiative saves 4,000 bottles every day—the equivalent of 383 tonnes of waste per year. This represents another positive step in protecting the planet, while also benefiting consumers, who only have to pay for the fragrance. And to share its commitment to sustainable luxury, L’Oréal invites consumers to embrace a more responsible approach, as it has done with My Way, the latest fragrance by Giorgio Armani. With its sustainably sourced raw ingredients and refillable bottle, My Way is a perfect example of an eco-designed beauty product.

The refillable trend has also expanded beyond fragrances to reach skincare and makeup. To reduce the amount of plastic used in packaging, Kiehl’s now offers pouch refillables and reusable aluminium bottles for several body and haircare products. The serums in the Yves Saint Laurent Pure Shots range also come in refillable packaging. The new Rosso lipstick by Valentino combines a luxurious case with interchangeable refills: a small but powerful revolution that combines a traditional case featuring the brand’s colourful, high-end style with modern refills that can be swapped out according to your mood—all while reducing packaging.    

Sustainable sourcing of exceptional raw materials

L’Oréal Luxe also stands out thanks to the exceptional quality of its raw materials, often sourced from niche growers, combined with the unique transformation processes the Group uses to extract the best plants have to offer. To obtain refined, high-performance ingredients, the Division's brands preserve and renew these rare and exceptional ingredients. For example, Lancôme acquired the Domaine de la Rose Lancôme in Grasse, France in 2020. The brand grows Centifolia roses on the estate to be used in its fragrances. The first harvest took place in May 2021. The brand also aims to add other iconic Grasse plants such as iris, jasmine and lavender to the estate in a bid to preserve and develop biodiversity. Plants grown for use in fragrances are Ecocert certified according to organic farming standards. The goal is to nurture the living ecosystems and fertile soils by enriching them with organic material from the estate. Thanks to its unique agricultural and architectural heritage, the estate is an exceptional terroir, featuring rich biodiversity and a balanced biotope, which Lancôme strives to protect and preserve.

Biotherm: a role model in terms of environmental commitments

Some brands make their environmental commitments and convictions an integral part of their identity, like Biotherm, a pioneer in ocean protection. Biotherm will be the first brand to use bottles made of 100% biorecycled plastic, produced using a unique enzymatic biorecycling process developed by green biotech company Carbios. The innovation is a world first in sustainable beauty. Committed to environmental protection for nearly a decade via its Water Lover programme, Biotherm took things even further in 2021 by embarking on a new initiative: Live by Blue Beauty. With this initiative, Biotherm has committed to using more renewable ingredients, creating formulas that are increasingly respectful of the oceans, developing more sustainable packaging and designs, and raising awareness worldwide about the environmental challenges facing the planet’s oceans. Every year, the brand also organises a volunteer event for employees to collect litter on beaches. This even more comprehensive commitment will help to preserve the fragile yet critical ocean ecosystem, which the brand has always strived to protect.