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Hard-earned lessons from L’Oreal’s chief of U.S. sustainability

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Trellis or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: L’Oréal is advancing its sustainability goals by committing to 100% eco-designed products by 2030
• The company has already reduced emissions from its operated sites by 74% between 2019 and 2023 while increasing production by 12%
• Key initiatives include energy efficiency projects, renewable energy investments, and the use of its Sustainable Product Optimization Tool (SPOT) to assess product impact

🔭 The context: Instead of marketing niche "green" products, L’Oréal (See sustainability performance) is integrating sustainable ingredients and packaging into its bestsellers
• Nearly 60% of its ingredients now come from renewable sources, verified by independent auditors
• Regulatory pressures, such as California’s extended producer responsibility laws, have also pushed the company to rethink its packaging strategy

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: L’Oréal's shift toward eco-design across its entire portfolio demonstrates how major brands can scale sustainability efforts effectively (See 
• By incorporating sustainable practices into mainstream products, the company ensures wider environmental impact rather than limiting it to niche offerings
• The reduction of plastic waste and fossil fuel-derived ingredients also aligns with broader emissions reduction goals

⏭️ What's next: L’Oréal will continue enhancing its sustainability training, adding job-specific modules to help employees integrate eco-conscious decision-making into daily operations
• New innovations, such as waterless fragrance extraction, could set industry benchmarks
• Regulatory developments, particularly at the state level, may further shape the company’s sustainability strategy

💬 One quote: “Instead of going for these one-off green product lines, we would take the learnings from those and apply them to our bestsellers.” — Marissa McGowan, Chief Sustainability Officer, L’Oréal North America

📈 One stat: 85% of new or updated L’Oréal products have improved environmental or social footprints, evaluated using SPOT

See here detailed sustainability performance of companies like Estee Lauder, L’Oréal and Natura 

Click for more news covering the latest on corporate sustainability

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