For over a decade, L’Oréal has been working towards sustainable growth through energy-conscious decisions aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of its operations in India.
L’Oréal prioritises transparency and traceability in sourcing renewable energy by implementing systems that track the origin of its electricity, identifying the specific windmills or solar farms contributing to its energy mix.
By utilizing its proximity to river basins in Himachal Pradesh, L’Oréal has harnessed hydro power and capitalized on state-supported wind and solar installations in Maharashtra to fulfil its energy needs.
As of October 2023, L’Oréal’s Chakan plant in Maharashtra moved to wind and solar energy with long-term power purchase agreements and replaced natural gas with biomass boilers. The plant uses solar panels to ensure reliable energy supply even when weather-dependent sources are unavailable. In January 2022, L’Oréal’s Baddi plant transitioned to hydro power and electric boilers to reduce diesel consumption. In other locations where electricity is sourced directly from the grid, L’Oréal purchases certificates that verify the source of renewable energy.
Alongside reaching 100% renewable energy at the end of 2023, L’Oréal India has effectively brought down carbon emissions from owned sources to zero*, and reduced energy intensity by 23% across all locations for the period of 2019-2023**.
Fostering a culture of responsible growth, L’Oréal India has been working towards reaching 100% renewable energy ambition through a multi-pronged strategy that includes:
- Reducing energy consumption: L’Oréal cut energy across manufacturing plants and operated sites by upgrading to energy-efficient equipment, using renewable energy sources like solar water heating, and implementing energy-saving practices such as utilising waste energy from steam condensation.
- Balancing environment and efficiency: In Chakan and Baddi plants, L’Oréal moved to renewable energy sourced from wind, hydro and solar power, to reduce the greenhouse gases produced during operations.
- Expanding use of solar energy: As early as 2006, L’Oréal invested in solar technology at its manufacturing and distribution plants to meet its basic heating needs. In 2023, L’Oréal scaled up to more than 2000 photovoltaic solar panels.