L’Oréal and Unilever ‘world leaders’ for environmental efforts

L’Oréal and Unilever were given an A grade for efforts across the three CDP programmes of climate, water and forests.

The acknowledgement is recognition, L’Oréal says, of ‘impressive actions’ to cut carbon emissions, enhance water stewardship, tackle deforestation in its supply chain and lead the new sustainable economy.

“L’Oréal’s AAA score highlights the Group’s early commitment to sustainability and progress made since the launch of its ​Sharing Beauty With All​ programme in 2013​,” the company says.

In a statement, Unilever voiced similar sentiments: “Being a sustainable business goes hand-in-hand with being a successful business, as we drive profitable growth for our brands, save costs, reduce risk and fuel innovation.”​

CDP publishes scores across climate, water and forests for over 3,000 major corporates, with the leaders celebrated on the prestigious A List, available here​.

Sharing Beauty With All: what is it?​

Integrated in L’Oréal’s entire value chain, Sharing Beauty With All sets forth the Group’s commitments in terms of sustainable development by 2020, the company says.

The programme aims to address all of the company’s impacts, from the products’ conception to their distribution, including production process and sourcing of ingredients.

It builds on four pillars:

• Innovating sustainably, to reduce the environmental footprint of products and formulas;

• Producing sustainably, to reduce the environmental footprint of plants and distribution centres;

• Living sustainably, giving consumers the possibility to make sustainable consumption choices;

• Sharing growth with all the Group’s stakeholders: communities, suppliers and employees.

More info on the Sharing Beauty With All programme is available here​.

CDP award​

Upon receiving the CDP award in Brussels last week, Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman and CEO of L’Oréal, said: “We are honored to be, for the second year in a row, one of only two companies in the world to receive an AAA rating​.

“Our environmental, social, societal actions must do good wherever we operate. I believe that companies are a force of transformation and as such, must commit to fight climate change alongside cities and states. ​

“Businesses and governments both have a responsibility and interest to act on climate change and for this reason, we must do everything we can to drive this momentum​.”