MUMBAI: L’Oréal India has announced its India operations including manufacturing plants in Baddi (Himachal Pradesh), Chakan (Maharashtra), Research & Innovation centres in Mumbai and Bengaluru, and offices in key metros have reached 100 per cent renewable energy. The milestone is in line with the Groupe’s L’Oréal for the Future targets to combat climate change and transition towards a more sustainable operating model as well as India’s Net Zero ambition outlined at the Glasgow COP 26.
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:
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1. 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.
2. 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.