C/ Respect for biodiversity
Prioritising sustainably sourced renewable raw materials
When sourcing its raw materials, the Group is committed to guaranteeing the sustainability of resources above and beyond quality considerations.
In 2010, the signatory countries to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Nagoya Protocol. This protocol aims to regulate access to the genetic resources of a given region and ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of those resources.
Conscious of these issues well before the Nagoya Protocol came into force, since 2005 L’Oréal’s Research Department has adopted an approach aimed at securing its supply channels for the future. This approach must address the issues to respect biodiversity. To do so, the Group gives preference to, among other things, renewable raw materials(1)(1) This means that the carbon content is primarily of plant origin. while ensuring that they are sustainably sourced.
For more than 10 years, Green Chemistry has been a catalyst for L’Oréal’s sustainable innovation policy. L’Oréal has adopted its principles to promote the use of renewable raw materials, designed with waste reduction in mind and preserving the water cycle. In a broad sense, Green Chemistry aims to prevent upstream pollution and combat the use and contamination of the environment at the source. The growing use of plant-based ingredients poses supply risks due to climate change (availability and price) and can also have environmental consequences through the cultivation of crops that produce these ingredients (deforestation, soil depletion, impacts on biodiversity etc.). Measures should therefore be taken to ensure the long-term sustainability of supply.
In 2023, among the raw materials newly referenced by the Group 63% in number were renewableand 25% in number respecte green chemistry.
PRODUCTS MARKETED IN 2023 WITH A PROPORTION OF RENEWABLE RAW MATERIALS ABOVE 98%
| Product examples | Product type | Brand | Design zone |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Garnier Fructis Adios Esponjado Treatment |
Garnier Fructis Adios Esponjado Treatment Product typeHaircare |
Garnier Fructis Adios Esponjado Treatment BrandGarnier |
Garnier Fructis Adios Esponjado Treatment Design zoneBrazil |
|
Baby body oil |
Baby body oil Product typeBody moisturiser |
Baby body oil BrandNice and lovely |
Baby body oil Design zoneKenya |
|
Dark & Lovely Pro-Renew Revitalising Hair Oil |
Dark & Lovely Pro-Renew Revitalising Hair Oil Product typeLeave-in haircare |
Dark & Lovely Pro-Renew Revitalising Hair Oil BrandSoftsheen-Carson |
Dark & Lovely Pro-Renew Revitalising Hair Oil Design zoneSouth Africa |
|
Barrier Bestie Ultra Whip Cream |
Barrier Bestie Ultra Whip Cream Product typeMoisturiser |
Barrier Bestie Ultra Whip Cream BrandThayers |
Barrier Bestie Ultra Whip Cream Design zoneUSA |
|
YSL – Or Rouge |
YSL – Or Rouge Product typeFacial cleanser |
YSL – Or Rouge BrandYves Saint Laurent |
YSL – Or Rouge Design zoneFrance |
In 2023, in addition to marketing new products with a very high proportion of renewable raw materials, L’Oréal continued to update its formulas already on the market. For example, L’Oréal Paris improved its Double Extension Carbon Black Mascara, increasing the percentage of renewable ingredients from 40% to 98%. In 2022, La Provençale launched a complete makeup routine that is certified organic or certified natural. Following its initial success, an extension to this product range was launched in 2023.
The Group also set up the Green Sciences transition programme to drive change in its portfolio of raw materials, with the aim of ensuring that ingredients have a favourable environmental profile. To do so, the programme is based on production and transformation processes that respect human health and environmental ecosystems.
Thanks to the Green Sciences pillars, the Group can optimise the production and transformation of raw materials in the existing portfolio, as well as those under development. The Sustainable Cultivation pillar will ensure biomass production while respecting best practices for agriculture and biodiversity, soil quality, use of phytosanitary products, greenhouse gas emissions and sound water management.
The biomass transformation pillars correspond to Biotechnology and Fermentation, Green Chemistry and Extraction processes.
In 2023, 63% of the newly introduced raw materials were renewable. In addition, 16 new raw materials based on Green Chemistry principles were introduced representing 25% of the total. In 2023, 76% of newly introduced raw materials comply with the biobased, abundant mineral or circular (BAC) processes indicator.
The Group considers biodiversity to be a key source of innovation. The planned increased use of raw materials from renewable sources must ensure that the ecosystems and the availability of these resources for other purposes are not adversely affected. The Group is committed to a sustainable and responsible supply chain (see subparagraph 4.3.1.2.2.).
In 2023, 65% of our ingredientsin formulas were from biobased sources, derived from abundant minerals or from circular processes.
TARGET 2030: 95%
More generally, L’Oréal is working on a number of methodological approaches to help define this transition (abundant minerals, circularity, sustainable farming). The Group is working on developing a methodology to analyse its agricultural practices from a qualitative perspective to complement its sustainable sourcing initiatives and herald a genuinely regenerative approach.
(1)This means that the carbon content is primarily of plant origin.