All of the plastic bottles and jars used by French beauty brand L’Occitane will be made from 100 percent recycled plastic by 2025 as part of its new sustainability roadmap.
Sustainability has been at the heart of French beauty brand L’Occitane for years. Its latest effort sees it join the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program.
L’Occitane says its participation in the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment builds on its efforts to become a more circular company. It says by 2025, 100 percent of its bottles will be made from 100 percent recycled plastic.
Additionally, all of its stores will offer in-store recycling services to help consumers keep their plastic bottles out of landfills. Currently, more than 40 percent of L’Occitane stores around the world offer in-store recycling efforts.
The announcement builds on L’Occitane’s sustainability commitments, including its 2014 partnership with recycling platform TerracCycle.
L’Occitane says it’s aiming to reach a science-based net-zero 2050 target — a roadmap that’s been validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative.
“We are aiming to achieve ambitious targets with this commitment. Although our company has many options for transforming its production units, products and distribution, the creation of this low-carbon world requires us to develop solutions with our consumers and our partners,” Adrien Geiger, the L’Occitane Group’s Chief Sustainability Officer, said in a statement.
L’Occitane says that since its initial carbon assessment in 2008, it has collected data covering all emission sources (direct and indirect), which are essential for drawing up its three-pillar roadmap. It’s aiming to halve emissions produced by its energy commitment across all of its own sites including factories, warehouses, and stores. It achieved 95 percent renewable energy sources in 2021. It also plans to eliminate air freight by 2030 for the transport of its products.
The beauty giant is also working to address transport and product use emissions, which involves working with partners, suppliers, and its customers. Specifically, it’s encouraging consumers to reduce hot water use when rinsing products. It joined the 50L Home coalition — an effort that encourages responsible water use.
L’Occitane has been steadily increasing its sustainability efforts. Since 2020, it has committed more than €45 million to reducing its emissions through the Livelihoods Carbon Fund (LFC3) and the Climate Fund for Nature — announced last December in a partnership with Kering.
The Climate Fund for Nature, with more than €140 million pledged of its €300 million target, will help to bring resources from the luxury fashion and beauty sectors to restore nature and support women.
With the planet facing a “global climate and biodiversity crisis never witnessed before, “Geiger said the Fund is critical.
“While reducing our emissions and impacts is our priority, the Climate Fund for Nature will help us go further by supporting projects that encourage regenerative practices, benefiting both nature and communities.”
Related on Ethos:
