Garnier Earns Cradle to Cradle Status

L’Oréal USA announced that five products in its Garnier SkinActive line achieved Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver recognition. The product line, manufactured at L’Oréal USA’s facility in Franklin, NJ, earned this certification based on an evaluation of material health, material reutilization, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship and social fairness practices. Garnier is the first mass market skin care brand to receive this certification for its products and is also one of the few skin care brands to have multiple products certified in a portfolio.


With this, Garnier joins Biolage and Kiehl’s as the third L’Oréal USA brand to achieve Cradle to Cradle certification for a selection of its products.


The announcement was made during this year’s Sustainable Brands conference in Vancouver, in conjunction with the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and MBDC, the creators of the Cradle to Cradle Design Framework and assessors of L’Oréal products. The certifications are the result of L’Oréal USA’s global commitment to innovate, produce and develop sustainably through its global sustainability program, Sharing Beauty With All, the firm said.


“The Cradle to Cradle certification is a multi-attribute certification that mirrors L’Oréal USA’s holistic approach to sustainable product development,” said Danielle Azoulay, head of CSR and sustainability for L’Oréal USA. “We know our consumers value sustainability and to us that means demonstrating sustainability leadership across the value chain, from formulation to manufacturing to renewable resources to social fairness. We are thrilled that Garnier is the third brand in our portfolio to achieve this major milestone and look forward to continuing to integrate this best-in-class certification across L’Oréal USA’s products.”


The newly certified products include: Garnier SkinActive Deep Pore Facial Cleanser with Green Tea; Garnier SkinActive Refreshing Facial Cleanser with Aloe Juice; Garnier SkinActive Soothing Cleansing Milk with Rose Water; Garnier SkinActive Deep Pore Exfoliating Face Scrub with Green Tea; and Garnier SkinActive Refreshing Cream Cleanser with Aloe Juice.


All of the newly certified Garnier products were produced in L’Oréal USA’s Franklin site, which is powered with 100% renewable electricity and features optimized vessel cleaning systems that have led to a reduction in water consumption. Sustainable packaging was a priority for all of the newly certified products, the packaging for Garnier’s SkinActive Deep Pore Exfoliating Face Scrub with Green Tea is made from 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic while the packaging of all three of Garnier’s certified cleansers are made from 30% PCR plastic. 


“L’Oréal continues to set an incredible example for how the beauty industry can make our world a better place,” said William McDonough, co-founder of MBDC, the originators of the Cradle to Cradle Certified program and assessors of the certified Garnier products. “Their commitment to design, develop and take to market Cradle to Cradle certified products not only empowers customers to choose products that are good for the world, but also encourages other businesses to follow suit. L’Oréal is, in effect, inviting their industry to join them in collaborative advantage as they seek the highest standard.”