Aurélie Weinling
International Scientific & Sustainability Director, Garnier
Green Beauty is a holistic approach encompassing packaging, products, manufacturing, and sourcing to lead the way towards sustainable beauty that’s accessible to all without compromising the quality of our beauty products.
Consumers are becoming more conscious of the need to protect the environment and save natural resources for future generations. They’re paying attention to the environmental impact of the brands they buy.
In fact, a recent survey by the global beauty brand Garnier found that 81 percent of respondents want to lead more sustainable lifestyles in 2021. Forty-four percent
of those surveyed said that COVID-19 made them take environmental issues more seriously.
This enhanced awareness is coming at the same time as technological advances that make increased sustainability possible, says Aurélie Weinling, Garnier’s International Scientific and Sustainability Director. “Consumers are looking for sustainability if it doesn’t compromise the price or the efficiency and quality of the product,” she says. “It’s now possible to have a sustainable product that’s still efficient and still affordable. There’s now a good alignment between consumer expectations and what’s available in terms of technology.”
Reducing products’ environmental footprint
Garnier wants to lead the way in the beauty industry, creating products that respect the environment and natural resources. Over the past few years, the company has reduced the environmental footprint of its products and increased its natural-origin and renewable, plant-based ingredients.
For example, SkinActive was its first skincare line formulated with 96 percent naturally-derived ingredients and Garnier BIO is a range of certified organic skincare products that contain 95 percent natural ingredients and up to 20 percent organic ingredients. Fructis vegan formulas packaging is 100 percent recycled and its cardboards are 100 percent recyclable. Their newest innovation, Green Labs, which is powered by 59% renewable energy and tracks biodegradability, renewability, and water footprint of their vegan formula. This is where the brand merges nature and science to create efficient solutions for glowing, healthy-looking skin regardless of skin type or tone. The company has also lowered carbon dioxide emissions and water consumption at its industrial sites.
Garnier also helps communities around the world through socially responsible sourcing programs, giving people typically excluded from the job market access to work and a sustainable income. It also employs fair trade practices across its supply chain.
We’re committed to undertaking every step of this journey and meeting consumer expectations for positive change.
Now, the company’s taking its commitment to the next level with Green Beauty. This holistic, end-to-end approach to sustainability influences every aspect of the business, reducing or eliminating environmental impact in packaging, products, formulas, manufacturing, and solidarity sourcing.
Brands have a role to play
Weinling says that the COVID-19 pandemic was a wake-up call that we all need to protect our planet and stop exceeding its limits, and that brands have a role to play. “We have the opportunity to make a real impact, helping to create access to sustainable beauty for all,” she says. “We’re committed to undertaking every step of this journey and meeting consumer expectations for positive change.”
Garnier’s Green Beauty strategies don’t ignore a product’s end of life, either. In 2019, Garnier’s new shampoos and hair care formulas reached an average of 91 percent biodegradability and the company’s working to improve that. Garnier has also committed to sustainably source all of its plant-based and renewable ingredients by 2022. This means knowing the origins of the plants and the country in which they were produced and verifying decent and safe labour conditions, equal opportunities, and zero discrimination.
By 2025, 100 percent of Garnier’s new products will have an improved environmental profile. By that same year, Garnier has committed to stop using virgin plastic entirely, which will save 37,000 tonnes of virgin plastic per year. Virgin plastic is newly-manufactured plastic that has never been used in a product or processed before. Instead, the company will use 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastics or bio-sourced plastic that’s 100 percent recyclable, compostable, refillable, or reusable.
Carboneutral pledge
Garnier has also pledged that by 2025, all of its industrial sites will be carboneutral. Its Canadian production facility, located in Québec, which manufactures 200 products, became carboneutral in 2017. This made it the company’s first facility in the Americas to make the complete transition. As part of its efforts to shift to renewable energy, the Quebec plant uses recycled organic waste from 25 towns and agrifood businesses in the region, which will lead it each year avoid emitting more than 2,100 tonnes of GHGs into the atmosphere. This carboneutrality project was inititiated by a partnership with the Québec Goverment, Énergir and the City of Saint-Hyacinthe.
“No one can do it alone. That was a partnership between Garnier, the local government, and the city,” says Weinling. “I think it’s absolutely key when speaking about sustainability that everyone plays a role — the government, industry, and consumers. We all have to work together to make it happen.”
Transparency is also a key part of Garnier’s sustainability strategy. “It’s a journey. We’re not perfect, but we’re improving step by step,” says Weinling. “We have a strong commitment by 2025, but where do we stand today?” This is why the company released its sustainability report last year, showing its progress so far. The company will continue to report on how it’s performing in each area, including ingredient sourcing, production, and packaging.
Employees excited to play a role
“Our employees know we need to commit to sustainability and to provide it in our products now,” says Weinling. “This provides a sense of purpose in our daily work. It’s something that really drives us. It’s super exciting for our employees to play a role in this sustainable journey.”
“It used to be very expensive. It’s becoming more affordable and we’re at the phase where we can do it without increasing our price,” she says. “This is key when you’re a global company that aims to provide affordable products. Sustainable beauty should be accessible for all.”
What Is Garnier’s Green Beauty?
It’s a complete end-to-end approach to sustainability. The aim is to transform every stage of Garnier’s supply chain, reducing or eradicating environmental impact in these key areas.
Plastic & Packaging
By 2025
Garnier will aim to use Zero Virgin Plastic in packaging, saving 37,000 tonnes of plastic every year. By 2025, all packaging will also be either reusable, recyclable or compostable.
Product & Formula
By 2022
All plant-based and renewable ingredients will be sustainability sourced.
By 2025, 100% of Garnier’s new products will have an improved environmental profile.
Factories & Manufacturing
100% carbon neutral industrial sites by 2025, through the use of renewable energy.
The CO2 emission of industrial sites have already been reduced by 72%.34% of our industrial sites are carbon neutral. 66% of our energy is renewable.
Solidarity Sourcing
By 2025
Garnier will have empowered 800 communities worldwide as part of our solidarity sourcing program.
Garnier has always been committed to a world against animal testing since 1989. The brand is now officially approved by Cruelty Free International under the Leaping Bunny Programme.
