L’Oréal’s US subsidiary achieves carbon neutrality 4 years ahead of schedule

By Julia Wray | Published: 21-Sep-2021

L’Oréal USA has met the critical milestone of its sustainability commitment across all of its sites

L’Oréal USA, the largest subsidiary of the L’Oréal Groupe, has reached carbon neutrality for scopes 1 and 2 emissions for all 25 of its US sites, across 12 states.

These include its manufacturing and distribution facilities, administrative sites, and research and innovation sites.

The milestone was announced to coincide with the launch of Climate Week NYC (20-26 September), for which L’Oréal was the Opening Ceremony Sponsor.

The strategy for reaching carbon neutrality, said L’Oréal USA, included:

1. Energy optimisation, which encompassed switching to LED lighting alongside more specialised equipment such as high-efficiency air compressors and vacuum pumps. The subsidiary joined the US Department of Energy’s Better Buildings, Better Plants programme in 2016, which identified new opportunities for energy savings.

2. Direct renewable energy projects. Here 70% of L’Oréal USA’s sites have on-site renewable energy projects, including the largest commercial solar array in Kentucky at its Florence Haircare manufacturing facility; an early commitment to solar energy in Arkansas; and renewable energy in its administrative offices in Berkeley Heights.

3. Locally sourced Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), to make up the difference between on-site solar capacity and usage; and

4. Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). Where L’Oréal USA uses on-site gas for space and water heating, it procures RNG from landfill gas projects in Texas and New York that capture and convert methane produced from the natural decomposition of organic materials.

"L'Oréal's sustainability ambition is a transformational effort that has touched every department, becoming a source of pride, inspiration and education for all our 11,000 US employees," said Stéphane Rinderknech, President & CEO, L'Oréal USA.

"Our brands and products are some of the most recognisable in the world, and more than two out every three products we sell in the United States are manufactured here.

"Our customers can be proud their products are made in facilities that use 100% renewable energy.

"While we are proud of these achievements, we know this is not enough to meet the moment we are in today and must push ourselves ever farther to meet the climate crisis head-on."

L’Oréal USA’s carbon neutrality is in line with the beauty giant’s sustainability commitment, 'L’Oréal for the Future', which sates that all L’Oréal operated sites worldwide must reach carbon neutrality by 2025.

With this announcement, said L’Oréal, the US subsidiary has achieved this goal four years ahead of schedule.

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