L’Oreal Makes Progress on Sustainability Commitment

NEW YORK — L’Oreal USA revealed last week the first measured results of its global sustainability program, which was first launched in 2013.

The French cosmetics and beauty company houses its American operations in New York City. Globally, the company initiated “Sharing Beauty with All,” which tracks L’Oreal’s effort to sustainably produce and develop products.

By the end of 2014, the L’Oreal Group (the term used for operations in the U.S. and around the world) achieved a 50 percent reduction of carbon dioxide emissions over its previous levels. L’Oreal USA reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 57 percent, saving nearly 60,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

The company has promised that by 2020, 100 percent of products will have an environmental or social benefit, and 100 percent of the company’s suppliers will be evaluated on their social and environmental performance. Additionally, carbon emissions, as well as water consumptions and waste per finished product will be cut by 60 percent from current levels.

“We are particularly proud to unveil these very encouraging results after making firm and quantified commitments towards sustainable development,” said Jean-Paul Agon, chairman and CEO of L’Oreal, in a statement. “These results show that we can deliver significant and tangible results if we put sustainable development at the center of the group strategy, as we have been doing with determination for several years. Companies have an important role to play in society, and L’Oreal intends to make a significant contribution.”

The company accomplished this by investing more than $35 million toward renewable energy and use of solar technology across several facilities. L’Oreal’s South Brunswick, N.J., distribution center boasts the company’s largest solar panel array with more than 10,000 panels. The array supplies nearly 100 percent of the building’s electrical energy requirements and reduces its carbon dioxide emissions by close to 900 tons annually.

Beyond the company’s advances on solar power infrastructure, L’Oreal USA has taken several steps toward being energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. All U.S. facilities, for example, are certified ISO-140001. This certification standard, established by the International Organization for Standardization, is part of a family of standards that helps organizations to minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment — ISO-140001, specifically, is used by supply managers.
L’Oreal also aims to reduce the need for hot water through a vessel cleaning optimization program called OptiCIP. The program uses dishwasher-like technology and an improved three-step cleaning process, which helps reduce water consumption by 40 percent and subsequently reduces the energy necessary to heat the water.

In Piscataway, N.J., sun tubes that collect and redistribute sunlight illuminate L’Oreal’s warehouse without the need for electric lighting. These 65 sun tubes will save an estimated 13,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

L’Oreal’s Research & Innovation Laboratory in Clark, N.J., has daylighting systems to maximize natural sunlight and low E-coated windows that reduce the need for climate control.

“Over the last decade, L’Oreal USA has been persistent in reducing our carbon footprint and improving our environmental performance through innovative sustainability solutions,” said Jonathan Maher, associate vice president, corporate social responsibility & sustainability for L’Oreal USA, in a statement. “Our significant solar capabilities and energy efficiency achievements are thanks to our dedicated employees and facilities who continue to infuse social and environmental sustainability into every aspect of L’Oreal’s business.”