PARIS, 21 April 2009 (AFP) – The global leader in cosmetics, L’Oréal, announced that it has fixed itself a target to reduce by half its emissions of greenhouse gases, production of waste and its consumption of water by 2015; an announcement that came on Tuesday 21 April, the eve of ‘Earth Day’.

Suzhou, China - Bamboo planted on a site treating water from the L'Oréal factory there (Photo: L'Oréal)

According to a press release, these commitments relate to the ten-year period between 2005 and 2015.

In order to reach its goal L’Oréal, which produces some 4.7 billion bottles of shampoo, bottles of perfume and tubes of mascara each year, must “accelerate” its experiments with various counter-measures, stated the spokesperson.

For the reduction of emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) for example, the group is promoting the idea of using solar panels – such as at sites at Pune in India or Burgos in Spain – and biogas – like at Libramont in Belgium – or electricity and hot water produced from the combustion of methane gas recovered from agricultural waste.

The group has not revealed the exact amount of investment pledged to its policy of sustainable development.

Between 2005 and 2008, CO2 emissions were reduced by 11.5%, water consumption per product by 13% and the amount of waste produced per finished product by 10.1%.

In 2005, L’Oréal produced 230,300 tonnes of C02, consumed 0.72 l litres of water per item and generated 0.322 kg of waste per product.

“At the dawn of the 21st Century, the global leader for beauty ought to set a true example in terms of sustainable development”, declared Jean-Paul Agon, director general, in a press release.