L’Oréal USA, which operates a plant in North Little Rock, announced Monday that it has achieved carbon neutrality for two out out of three types of emissions at all of its 25 manufacturing and distribution facilities, administrative sites, and research and innovation sites in 12 states.
The largest subsidiary of the L'Oréal Groupe has also achieved carbon neutrality four years ahead of schedule. Its parent company committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2025 through an initiative called L'Oréal for the Future.
Monday’s announcement coincides with the Climate Week NYC conference, which began on Monday and will end Sunday.
L’Oréal USA, which employs 11,000 people, has been working to improve energy efficiency and transition to 100% renewable energy since 2005.
President and CEO Stéphane Rinderknech said in a news release, “Our brands and products are some of the most recognizable in the world, and more than two out every three products we sell in the United States are manufactured here.
“Our customers can be proud that their products are made in facilities that use 100% renewable energy. While we are proud of these achievements, we know this is not enough to meet the moment we are in today and must push ourselves ever farther to meet the climate crisis head-on.”
L’Oréal USA said it has achieved carbon neutrality by reducing energy consumption; purchasing locally sourced renewable energy certificates; procuring renewable natural gas from landfill gas projects in Texas and New York, and completing on-site renewable energy projects at 70% of its locations.
The company was an early adopter of solar energy in Arkansas, where it built a 3,600-panel, 1.2-megawatt array in 2017 to power its 450,000-SF North Little Rock plant.
L’Oréal USA also announced in May a $12 million-plus expansion of that plant, a project that will create 45 full-time jobs and increase production for all its brands.
The company’s long-term sustainability goals include reducing all greenhouse gas emissions by 25% and becoming a net zero company by 2050.
