L'Oréal Invests in Sustainable Plant-Based Ingredients

L'Oréal has invested in Geno—becoming the third global company and final founding investor in the biotech ingredient company. 

L'Oréal's involvement brings Geno's collective member revenue to over $100 billion. Additional founding members are Unilever and Kao Corporation.

Geno will use the funding to develop, produce and commercialize biotechnology-based alternatives to critical ingredients in the formulations of everyday cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products.

The alliance with help advance the development of sustainable beauty and clean formulations.

Barbara Lavernos, deputy chief executive officer in charge of Research, Innovation and Technology for L'Oréal, says:

"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, our new scientific and sustainable revolution, the cornerstone of our Research."

Lavernos adds, "We are thrilled to partner with Geno, whose unique approach to developing alternative biotechnology-based ingredients perfectly aligns 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 collective efforts can have a meaningful purpose."

More About L'Oreal x Geno

Geno's biotechnology platform uses proprietary engineered microorganisms to ferment plant sugars that produce ingredients to make sustainable surfactants.

These new ingredients will be used in a range of L'Oréal's products—marking an essential step towards L'Oréal's goals of 100% eco-designed formulas that respect the diversity of aquatic ecosystems.

And—the partnership means L'Oreal will be closer to its goal of having 95% of ingredients from renewable plant-based sources or abundant minerals by 2030.

As part of its sustainability program, L'Oréal for the Future, the company aims to partner with biotechnology innovators to explore, develop and manufacture more sustainable ingredients.

Christophe Schilling, Chief Executive Officer for Geno comments:

"Welcoming L'Oréal to this incredible team of global brand heavyweights signifies just how important and urgent the need is for traceable, resilient and sustainable materials, at scale." 

"L'Oréal's commitment further validates Geno's ability to deliver at scale and accelerates our journey toward reducing global carbon emissions by over 100 million tons in the upcoming years by targeting large-scale material markets."

"This partnership will further catapult our venture's mission to the global scale required to meet strong market demand for sustainable products."