Less Hot Air from L’Oréal USA

The announcement came too late for Earth Day, but the results are no less impressive. L'Oréal USA has published first measured results of its global sustainability program, Sharing Beauty With All. Launched in 2013, the program celebrates L'Oréal's commitment to produce, develop and innovate sustainably. By 2020, the company pledges that 100% of products will have an environmental or social benefit and 100% of strategic suppliers will be evaluated on their social and environmental performance. In addition, carbon emissions in absolute terms, as well as water consumption and waste per finished product, will be cut by 60%.

“We are particularly proud to unveil these very encouraging results after making firm and quantified commitments towards sustainable development,” said Jean-Paul Agon, chairman and CEO of L'Oréal. “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'Oréal intends to make a significant contribution.”

By the end of 2014, the L'Oréal Group achieved a reduction of CO2 emissions by 50% in absolute terms, from a 2005 baseline. L'Oréal USA reduced its CO2 emissions by 57%, a saving of nearly 60,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. This milestone underscores the company's long commitment to renewable energy and use of solar technology across its many facilities, representing today more than 35 million dollars in investment.  L'Oréal's South Brunswick, NJ, distribution center boasts the largest solar panel array with over 10,000 panels, which supplies nearly 100% of the building's electrical energy requirements and reduces the CO2 emissions by nearly 900 tons annually.

Beyond the company's advances on solar power infrastructure, L'Oréal USA has taken additional pathways to being energy-efficient and environmentally-sound:

• All US facilities are certified ISO-140001 and will reduce the need for hot water through a vessel cleaning optimization program called OptiCIP. The program uses dishwasher-like technology and an improved three-step cleaning process, which helps reduce water consumption by 40 percent and consequently reduces the energy necessary to heat the water;

• The company's Piscataway, NJ, facility is lit by sun tubes that collect and redistribute sunlight to illuminate the warehouse without the need for electric lighting. These 65 sun tubes will save an estimated 13,000 Kg of CO2 emissions per year;

• The Research & Innovation Laboratory in Clark, NJ, has daylighting systems to maximize natural sunlight and low E-coated windows that reduce the need for climate control.

“Over the last decade, L'Oréal USA has been persistent in reducing our carbon footprint and improving our environmental performance through innovative sustainability solutions,” added Jonathan Maher, AVP Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability for L'Oréal USA.  “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'Oréal's business.”

Nationally recognized for its solar and carbon efforts, L'Oreal USA was named a Solar Champion by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2013, and awarded a LEED Gold Certification for its Laboratory in Clark, NJ and offices in Berkeley Heights, NJ, as well as the USGBC Emerald Award for its Clark, NJ facility in 2014.

To view the Sharing Beauty With All progress report visit www.lorealusa.com.