Staff win credit for L’Oreal USA’s 57% cut in in CO2 emissions across United States
The L’Oreal Group recently announced the first measured results of its global sustainability program, Sharing Beauty With All.
According to the progress report, its US subsidiary reduced CO2 emissions by 57% in the 10 years up to the end of 2014 - a saving of nearly 60,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
"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, L’Oreal USA’s Assistant Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability.
"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."
Sharing Beauty With All
Launched in 2013, the Sharing Beauty With All initiative reflects L'Oreal's commitment to transform its sustainability footprint while at the same time aiming to achieve its business ambitions and reach a billion new customers.
It wants to improve every part of its value chain - from research to operations - as well as use the power of its brand to raise awareness about sustainability and encourage consumers to make more sustainable choices.
The company has pledged that 100% of its products will have an environmental or social benefit by 2020. All its strategic suppliers will be evaluated on their social and environmental performance during the same period.
In addition, carbon emissions in absolute terms, as well as water consumption and waste per finished product, will be cut by 60%.
A $35m investment in solar, carbon and energy goals
L’Oreal USA, the largest subsidiary of the L’Oreal Group, has so far invested $35 million in order to help it achieve its solar, carbon and energy goals. Initiatives include:
* Installing 10,000 solar panels at its South Brunswick, NJ, distribution center. The panels supply nearly 100% of the building’s electrical energy requirements, reducing CO2 emissions by nearly 900 tons annually
* Improving cleaning processes at all its US facilities, thereby cutting water consumption by 40% and reducing the energy needed to heat the water
* Lighting the firm’s Piscataway, NJ, warehouse with “sun tubes” that collect and redistribute sunlight, reducing the need for electric lighting. These 65 sun tubes will save an estimated 13,000kg of CO2 emissions per year
Cutting CO2 emissions by half
Last month, L’Oreal announced that in the space of ten years it had cut exactly half of its CO2 emissions globally.
“We are particularly proud to unveil these very encouraging results after making firm and quantified commitments towards sustainable development,” said Jean-Paul Agon, L’Oreal Chairman and CEO.
"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."
L’Oreal has pledged to present yearly reports on its progress in sustainable development as part of its Sharing Beauty With All program.
