L’Oréal Pledges ‘Zero Deforestation’ by 2020

L’Oréal has committed to zero deforestation and says it will source 100 percent renewable raw materials from sustainable sources by 2020.

To ensure none of its products are linked to deforestation, the company has implemented action plans related to the sustainable sourcing of palm oil, soya oil and wood fiber based products since 2007.

For example, in 2007 L’Oréal mandated that all of its suppliers of wood fiber-based products for packaging applications only use wood fibers from forests that are managed sustainably, are either FSC- or PEFC- certified (and other certifications recognized by PEFC), and that provide appropriate traceability.

In 2012 L’Oréal achieved 97 percent certified board for packaging; the company’s new goal is to have 100 percent certified board and paper for packaging and point of sale (POS) by 2020.

The company says it will also work with its suppliers to achieve its zero deforestation pledge and commits to ultimately only working with suppliers that can guarantee:

• Full compliance with the laws in the country where they operate.
• A comprehensive and formal free prior and informed consent from indigenous people and local communities potentially impacted by new plantations development.
• The conservation and restoration of high conservation value and high carbon stocks areas when expanding palm plantations.
• The renouncement to peat clearance for new plantations and the adoption of a responsible maintenance system of peatlands in existing plantation.

L’Oréal’s sustainable palm oil commitment follows Mondelez International’s announcement last week that it has achieved RSPO coverage for 100 percent of the palm oil it bought in 2013, two years ahead of schedule.

Unilever has also pledged that all of the palm oil the company buys globally will be traceable to known sources by the end of 2014 and the Hershey Company last month said it has achieved its goal to source 100 percent mass balanced Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certified palm oil more than a year ahead of its original 2015 commitment.