Known worldwide for its prominence in the beauty industry, L’Oréal Groupe has achieved a sustainability milestone – and it has done so earlier than projected.
The beauty giant reported last week that its L’Oréal USA subsidiary has reached carbon neutrality for scopes 1 and 2 emissions at its sites across the United States. It noted the achievement comes four years ahead of schedule and applies to 25 manufacturing and distribution, administrative, and research sites in 12 states.
Through its “L’Oréal for the Future” global sustainability program, L’Oréal has pledged that all company-operated sites worldwide must be carbon-neutral by 2025. L’Oréal USA has taken steps since 2005 to improve energy efficiency and transition to 100% renewable energy, the company noted.
“L’Oréal’s sustainability ambition is a transformational effort that has touched every department, becoming a source of pride, inspiration and education for all our 11,000 U.S. employees,” remarked L’Oréal USA President and CEO Stéphane Rinderknech. “Our brands and products are some of the most recognizable in the world, and more than two out every three products we sell in the United States are manufactured here. Our customers can be proud their products are made in facilities that use 100% renewable energy.”
According to L’Oréal, the U.S. subsidiary achieved carbon neutrality for Scopes 1 and 2 emissions with a strategy incorporating:
- Energy optimization measures like switching to LED lighting and installing specialized equipment such as high-efficiency air compressors and vacuum pumps.
- Direct renewable energy projects at 70% of U.S. sites, including installing more than 50,000 solar panels across the country since 2005.
- Purchasing renewable energy certificates (RECs), which make up the difference between on-site solar capacity and usage, under strict local parameters. L’Oréal explained the RECs it sources must be attributable to a local or semi-local renewable energy project close to the site using it, boosting demand for regional renewable (wind, hydro, and solar) energy supplies.
- Procuring renewable natural gas (RNG) from landfill gas projects for space and water heating.
By 2030, L’Oréal aims to reduce its entire inventory of greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) by 25% in absolute terms compared to 2016. Moreover, it seeks to become a net-zero company by 2050.
