L’Oréal Groupe has opened applications for its newly launched Sustainable Innovation Accelerator, which is seeking new sustainable solutions for the beauty industry.
The programme, aimed at addressing critical solution gaps within the industry, is backed by a €100m fund which will support it over the next five years.
It will focus on key areas such as low-carbon and climate-smart solutions, water-resilience solutions, nature-based solutions and alternative ingredients and materials.
This also includes research into eliminating fossil plastic use and plastic waste, circularity and resources management and sustainable and inclusive business models.
L’Oréal partnered with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) to support the scheme and identify and scale disruptive sustainable solutions.
CISL has a network of more than 40,000 people, which will provide “crucial support to selected applicants through an up to 12-month cohort programme”.
"At L'Oréal, we have always embraced and nurtured innovation, co-creating with partners across our value chain to drive positive change within the beauty industry," said Ezgi Barcenas, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer of the L'Oréal Groupe.
"As we work with our ecosystem to pave the way for a more sustainable future, we know that we have to be even more intentional in seeking, advancing and scaling pioneering solutions.
“We are looking forward to collaborating with a growing number of innovators and problem solvers worldwide.”
L’Oréal said start-ups, SMEs and established companies with “innovative solutions” are invited to apply.
Successful candidates will benefit from a custom acceleration programme including coaching, mentorship and potential pilot.
There will also be investment opportunities to support the innovations at scale.
James Cole, Chief Innovation Officer at CISL and Executive Director of Canopy, added: "In today's rapidly changing world, collaboration is key to driving meaningful progress.
“We are thrilled to partner with L'Oréal on this important initiative, leveraging our combined expertise to source and accelerate commercially relevant solutions for the challenges facing the beauty industry and beyond."
L’Oréal has been doubling down on its sustainable initiatives in the past year.
L'Oréal Research & Innovation, in partnership with The Société Française de Cosmétologie (SFC), announced the third edition of its Sustainability Challenge in May 2025
It is set to take place on 16 September 2025 during the 35th International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC) Congress in Cannes, France.
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