L’Oréal, a global leader in the beauty industry, is deeply committed to protecting the environment and preserving biodiversity. The company envisions a future where beauty is sustainable and sustainability itself is beautiful. Across its value chain, from research and development to operations, marketing, and customer engagement, L’Oréal continually seeks to improve the way it does business while minimizing its environmental impact. The challenge remains to produce more while using fewer resources and reducing ecological harm.
A Global Sustainability Commitment
Through its global sustainability initiative, Sharing Beauty with All, L’Oréal aimed to reduce its environmental footprint by 60% by 2020, using 2005 as a baseline. The campaign focused on three key areas: water consumption, waste reduction, and carbon dioxide emissions, including emissions from product transportation.
Sustainable Practices in Indonesia
L’Oréal Indonesia has implemented various initiatives to align with the company’s sustainability commitment, particularly in waste reduction. A significant breakthrough at its Indonesian manufacturing base is the Sludge Drying Management System project. This innovative system, housed in a high-tech greenhouse, utilizes solar energy and an evaporation process to dry sludge up to 97%, resulting in a 90% annual reduction in sludge waste at the factory.
Another major step towards sustainability is the company’s reduction of CO2 emissions through green electricity. Since 2014, L’Oréal Manufacturing Indonesia has sourced renewable electricity from the Hydroelectric Power Plant in Kracak, West Java. Additionally, its Jababeka plant has earned LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), meeting stringent U.S. standards for sustainable construction. This certification ensures that the facility optimizes water and energy efficiency, responsibly manages atmospheric impact, and utilizes sustainable materials and resources.
A Framework for Sustainable Growth
L’Oréal’s sustainability efforts are guided by four clear commitments that measure progress and ensure accountability.
The first pillar, Innovating Sustainably, focuses on reducing the environmental impact of product formulas and packaging by prioritizing renewable raw materials.
The second pillar, Producing Sustainably, involves cutting waste, lowering water consumption, and minimizing CO2 emissions at plants, distribution centers, and during transportation.
The third pillar, Living Sustainably, encourages customers to choose products with sustainable value. L’Oréal has developed a product assessment tool to evaluate environmental and social impacts, making this information accessible to consumers. Through the customer sustainability panel, consumers are given a voice to help shape the company’s sustainability strategies.
The fourth pillar, Developing Sustainably, ensures that L’Oréal supports the communities it operates in, including employees, suppliers, and broader society. This commitment includes assessing strategic suppliers on social and environmental impact, providing training programs to help suppliers improve sustainability practices, and supporting community education and mentorship initiatives.
Consumers as Partners in Sustainability
L’Oréal firmly believes that consumers are at the heart of its sustainability mission. Success depends on maintaining strong relationships with customers, and the company envisions growing its global consumer base to one billion while fostering responsible beauty consumption. By leveraging consumer insights, L’Oréal aims to drive positive change, proving that sustainability and beauty can go hand in hand.
