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

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🗞️ 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 

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