Going green is not just the prerogative of good governments, good business practice means investing in the future. L’Oréal, the global cosmetics giant plans to become “carbon balanced” by 2020 by offsetting greenhouse gas emissions from its operations. Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman and CEO of L’Oréal, said, “this renewed commitment shows L’Oréal’s will to taking part in the fight against climate change.”

People, planet and profit: In the last ten years  L’Oréal— a global cosmetics giant that is the umbrella company for brands like Biotherm and Lancôme— has reduced its absolute emissions by 50% while increasing production by 22%. The company has plans to further reduce its absolute emissions.

L’Oréal is also working on projects in Africa to offsets a portion of its emissions. In Burkina Faso, it is improving the conditions for women who work on raw materials processing for the company. This involves making the switch to more efficient stove tops that reduce emissions, while also being safer for human health. The company has also implemented measures to improve effectiveness in its supply chain, introducing agricultural practices in Indonesia that allow farmers to grow two crops at once and increase their revenue — a practice which will reduce clear felling and help halt the rate of deforestation.

Committed to a continued reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the company is now looking at a 60% reduction by 2020 by extending low-carbon operations through increased cooperation with raw material suppliers. Not just a PR stunt, L’Oréal is encouraging transparency in its green credentials and has set up a committee of experts that will look into the scientific methods adopted by the company to measure emissions and offsets.

-Image Courtesy L’Oréal