L'Oréal Groupe has backed 13 start-ups that are pioneering sustainable innovation in the beauty industry via its L'AcceleratOR programme.
A small business creating packaging made from wood to an ingredients start-up converting waste into new materials are among the companies chosen by the French beauty giant as part of its Sustainable Innovation Accelerator scheme.
L’Oréal’s L'AcceleratOR programme is a five-year scheme endowed with €100m running in partnership with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL).
It aims to be “a catalyst for scalable sustainable solutions of the future to solve the most urgent challenges in climate, nature and circularity,” said L’Oréal in a statement.
The start-ups – chosen from 1,000 entries from more than 100 countries – will be focused on “pilot readiness” in an intensive support phase with CISL, and will have access to L’Oréal’s global resources during that time.
The areas of innovation they are working on span next generation materials and packaging, nature-sourced ingredients and circular solutions.
Pilot projects, lasting six-to-nine months, will potentially be scaled internationally across the group.
“To accelerate sustainable solutions to market, we are being even more intentional and inclusive in our pursuit of partnerships through L’AcceleratOR,” said Ezgi Barcenas, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at L’Oréal.
“We are really energised to be co-designing the future of beauty with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, and these 13 change makers."
The 13 start-ups chosen by L’Oréal are:
- Kelpi (UK): Harnessing seaweed to create recyclable, low-carbon packaging
- Bioworks (Japan): Producing novel bioplastics derived from sugarcane and other plant-based materials
- Blue Ocean Closures (Sweden): Creating fibre-based caps and lids as an alternative to plastic packaging tops.
- Pulpex (UK): Developing next generation recyclable paper bottles
- PULPAC (Sweden): An innovation company in low-carbon, paper-based packaging processes.
- RAIKU (Estonia): Turning natural wood into high-end, shock-absorbing protective packaging
- Biosynthis (France): Crafting renewable and biodegradable raw materials
- P2 Science (USA): Bringing green chemistry and bio-sourced materials to the market
- Oberon Fuels (USA): Converting wood and pulp waste into renewable ingredients for spraying formulas
- Novobiom (Belgium): Using the natural power of fungi to turn complex waste into high-value products
- REPLACE (France): A single-step technology that transforms complex and multi-layer waste into durable new items.
- Gàs Verde (Brazil): Producing biomethane to replace fossil fuels in industrial processes and transportation
- Neutreeno (UK): A digital system to help companies calculate and cut emissions in their supply chains.
James Cole, Chief Innovation Officer at CISL, said: “At CISL, we are proud to partner with L'Oréal, a group with a long track record of delivering disruptive innovation at scale.
“By identifying the most promising scalable solutions benefitting people, nature and climate, and elevating them to the world stage, we are making a sustainable future not just a goal, but a reality.
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