L’Oréal has taken strong action in the following areas to reduce its overall plastic footprint: (1) packaging, (2) microplastics in the formulas of its products, (3) POS furniture, (4) transport and (5) plastic waste generated by its factories and warehouses.
In addition to ecodesign measures carried out by research laboratories, Operations teams and brands, this commitment requires the involvement of a range of stakeholders (companies located at different levels of the value chain, research institutions and public authorities).
In order to reduce its plastic footprint, L’Oréal has adopted a strategy known as the “3Rs”:
To do this, L’Oréal takes action at the design level of its products and develops circular economy measures that respect the environment and social rights. Its approach to reducing the plastic content in packaging is based on the following pillars:
In addition to reducing its use of plastics, L’Oréal wants to reduce the environmental impact of the remaining plastics it uses by means of recycling. Recycling helps to reduce CO2 emissions associated with the production of virgin plastic and to improve waste management by preventing litter, as plastics are collected and sorted for recycling. To this end, L’Oréal promotes the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) initiatives in countries in which this sector is underdeveloped.
L’Oréal has had a health and safety policy for the materials used in its packaging for 20 years. It specifies the conditions for acceptance or rejection of substances that may be present in our packaging, regardless of the material. This policy is updated annually in line with regulatory developments and scientific progress, and each supplier agrees to fully comply with regard to the packaging used in the Group’s products. Quality auditing is carried out to ensure compliance.
The Group has begun working on this value chain, particularly with suppliers of plastic packaging and recycled plastics, by involving them in analysing and mitigating upstream social risks. All recycled plastic producers used by the Group’s packaging suppliers undertake to comply with the Group’s standards and commit to this by signing the Letter of Mutual Ethical Commitment. A social audit is carried out at each recycled plastic supplier factory located in a high-risk country. A conforming social audit is a prerequisite for any commercial relationship between recycled plastic suppliers and the Group’s plastic packaging suppliers. Conscious of the fact that transforming the sector requires the cooperation of all of its stakeholders, including suppliers of plastic packaging, recycled plastics and other end products, the Group maintains an active dialogue with numerous stakeholders in order to shift the industry towards responsible sourcing.
Once sources have been analysed, social audits are conducted at recycling sites based in high-risk countries in accordance with the Group’s social audit procedure.
A €50 million impact fund (the Circular Innovation Fund) is dedicated to waste management and the circular economy as part of the L’Oréal for the Future commitments.
L’Oréal actively works with its suppliers to help them improve their performance in terms of sustainability.
In 2007, L’Oréal joined CDP supply chain programme for greater transparency in the actions of its suppliers and to monitor the progress made in relation to L’Oréal’s objectives. In 2014, participation in CDP Climate programme was made compulsory by L’Oréal for all strategic suppliers. The aim is to measure and report their emissions, set targets for reducing these emissions and communicate their action plans to achieve this objective successfully. In 2023, 95% of strategic suppliers completed the climate questionnaire. 76% of selected suppliers completed the water questionnaire and 73% of those selected for the sustainable management of forestry questionnaire responded.
