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L’Oréal, the world’s largest beauty company, is redefining packaging sustainability across its massive global portfolio. Under its “L’Oréal for the Future” strategy, the company aims for 100% of its plastic packaging to be refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2030.
Key initiatives:
- Bio-based materials: Partnership with Carbios to develop enzymatic plastic recycling and use biorecycled PET.
- Lightweighting projects: L’Oréal has reduced packaging weight across product lines by 58,000 tons since 2005.
- Refillable systems: Brands like Lancôme and Kiehl’s now offer refill stations and rechargeable packaging options in key markets.
Challenges:
- Complex product formats (airless pumps, small caps) complicate recycling streams.
- Global recycling inconsistencies make circularity hard to scale universally.
Strategic insight:
Compared to Estée Lauder and Unilever’s beauty divisions, L’Oréal’s investments into closed-loop innovation platforms set a clear industry benchmark, positioning it as a frontrunner in sustainable beauty.
Sources:
https://www.loreal.com/en/commitments-and-responsibilities/for-the-planet/packaging-commitments/
https://www.carbios.com/en/carbios-and-loreal-announce-groundbreaking-progress-in-biological-recycling-of-plastics/
