L’Oréal invested in a venture led by Geno, the California-headquartered biotechnology company, to create sustainable alternatives to key ingredients in beauty products. The French multinational company will be a founding member of the venture alongside Unilever and Kao.
The investment, made through L’Oréal’s corporate venture fund, BOLD, will support the creation of new, sustainable ingredients derived from living organisms. Through Geno’s biotechnology expertise, L’Oréal will replace traditional ingredients with bio-based alternatives, such as those made from plant-based sugars. These new ingredients will be used across various L’Oréal products, making a significant leap towards the company’s goal of 100% eco-designed formulas and ingredients that are 95%-derived from renewable or abundant sources.
Biotechnology is one of the four L’Oréal Green Sciences disciplines focusing on living organisms to supply raw materials while respecting biodiversity, natural resources, and aquatic ecosystems. The investment will help further to reduce the environmental footprint of the beauty industry and is a significant step toward achieving our L’Oréal for the Future 2030 commitments.
“At L’Oréal, we believe that science has the power to create a better world, and we are committed to using our expertise to drive positive change in the beauty industry. That’s why we have made Green Sciences the cornerstone of our research,” said Barbara Lavernos, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Research, Innovation and Technology, at L’Oréal. “We are thrilled to partner with Geno, whose unique approach to developing alternative, biotechnology-based ingredients aligns perfectly with our vision of a more sustainable future. By working together with other beauty players, we can leverage our collective expertise and resources wherever our combined efforts can have a meaningful impact.”
“This move not only aligns with our objective of delivering responsible and innovative beauty solutions to consumers but also strengthens our innovation ecosystem in North America,” said Sanford Browne, President of Research and Innovation for North America, at L’Oréal. “It’s a clear signal of our willingness to collaborate with partners who share our commitment to sustainability and reducing our environmental impact to create beauty that moves the world.”
“Welcoming L’Oréal to this incredible team of global brand heavyweights signifies just how important and urgent the need is for tractable, resilient and sustainable materials, at scale. L’Oréal’s commitment further accelerates Geno’s goal to reduce global carbon emissions by over 100 million tons in the upcoming years by targeting massive scale material markets. We’re energized to help L’Oréal’s achieve its bold 2030 goals of incorporating 95% bio-based ingredients for formulas and using packaging materials that are traceable and from sustainable sources,” said Christophe Schilling, Chief Executive Officer, Geno. “We have proven that impact is possible at scale. Geno’s technology was developed from the start to accelerate the materials transition by delivering sustainable ingredients at scale, and this venture is poised to do just that for the beauty and personal care industry. This partnership will further catapult our venture’s mission to the global scale required to meet soaring market demand for sustainable products.”
IL BIOECONOMISTA 