L'Oreal - New Sustainability Commitments for 2030
What they are and how they will be done.
L’Oreal, the worldwide cosmetics giant, announced in 2020 its new sustainability plan to lessen its environmental impact. This plan includes five main targets – fighting climate change, managing water sustainability, respecting biodiversity, preserving natural resources, and zero animal testing – all to be achieved by 2030.
The plan itself may seem like a tall order, but the company is not starting from nothing. Since 2005, L’Oreal has been improving energy efficiency in all of its facilities. At the end of 2020, they had 72 sites that were carbon neutral, meaning that they used only renewable energy, including 19 factories. As a result, they have reduced their CO2 emissions by 81%, even as production volume increased by almost 30%.
By 2030, the company intends to continue with this approach and reduce this number by an additional 25%. As a general rule, L’Oreal will align their greenhouse gas emissions with the +1.5 Celsius goal decided at the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to only 1.5 degrees Celsius, over the long term.
As another part of L’Oreal’s commitment to respecting the planet, the company is pushing to ensure that not only will they switch to using solely renewable energy in all of their sites, but also that all of their formulas will be safe for aquatic life and ecosystems by 2030. All water used in their manufacturing processes will be recycled and reused in a loop to verify minimal water waste. Already, L’Oreal has reduced total water used per finished product by nearly half of what it was in 2005.
In addition to protecting marine life, the company aims to preserve biodiversity. With global warming and deforestation, hundreds of natural ecosystems have taken the hit, and countless plant species have started to disappear. To prevent the excessive use of a handful of plant species, L’Oreal uses almost 1,600 raw materials from a wide variety of nearly 350 species of plants. Currently, the company sources 87% of its plant based ingredients sustainably. By 2030, they plan to make this number 100%.
Packaging, especially plastic packaging, is a widely known contributor to global waste – and a nearly unavoidable aspect for almost every company that sells consumer products. L’Oreal has been working to be sure that by 2030, 100% of plastics used in packaging will be from recycled or bio based sources and that by 2025, 50% will also be refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable. The plastics used in packaging will be reduced as well by 2030. Of the waste that could not be avoided in the processes of making their products in 2020, L’Oreal managed to recover 96% and reuse or recycle it to produce energy.
On the official website, L’Oreal states that they have not tested the safety of their products on animals since 1989. Though this may be the case, the company cannot be labeled as truly cruelty-free. The title can only be given to a company whose products are not tested on animals in any country in the world. Although the L’Oreal Group does not test on animals, they state that certain international health authorities may continue to test the safety of the products on animals nevertheless.
Overall, L’Oreal’s sustainability commitments are set to greatly benefit the planet and its affected ecosystems. This is only a first step, but a much needed one. In order to see real change, a multitude of companies need to adopt and carry out similar sustainability policies as well. The L’Oreal Group has already started to implement the changes mentioned, and as a result they are in a good position to successfully lower their impact on climate change and the environment.
Sources:
- https://www.loreal.com/en/commitments-and-responsibilities/for-the-planet/
- https://www.peta.org/about-peta/faq/is-loreal-cruelty-free/
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Britain in Talks With NATO to Boost Arctic Security
The Arctic Is No Longer a Frozen Backwater For decades, the Arctic sat quietly on the margins of global politics—remote, frozen, and largely ignored. That era is over. Britain is now in talks with NATO to strengthen Arctic security, acknowledging growing risks posed by Russia and China. In a notable shift, London’s assessment aligns closely with warnings long emphasized by Donald Trump, particularly as he continues to express strategic interest in Greenland. What once sounded like an eccentric fixation has evolved into a serious geopolitical conversation. The Arctic is rapidly becoming one of the world’s most contested regions, and Britain is positioning itself to play a larger role. Why Britain Is Paying Attention Now Although the UK is not an Arctic nation, it is an Arctic-adjacent power with significant strategic interests. British officials increasingly view the High North as critical to national and allied security. Melting ice is opening new shipping routes, exposing untapped natural resources, and making military movement easier than ever before. Britain’s talks with NATO focus on intelligence sharing, joint exercises, surveillance capabilities, and protecting undersea infrastructure such as communication cables and energy pipelines. These are not abstract concerns. Any disruption in the Arctic could have immediate consequences for European security and global trade. In short, what happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. Russia’s Expanding Arctic Footprint Russia is the dominant military power in the Arctic, and it is not slowing down. Moscow has reopened Soviet-era bases, deployed advanced missile systems, expanded its icebreaker fleet, and increased patrols across the region. The Arctic coastline represents a core part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent, making it strategically vital to the Kremlin. From NATO’s perspective, this military buildup creates both risk and uncertainty. Britain, which has long been vocal about Russian aggression—from Ukraine to cyber warfare—sees the Arctic as another front where deterrence must be strengthened before tensions spiral. The concern is not necessarily an immediate conflict, but miscalculation. In a region with harsh conditions and limited communication infrastructure, even minor incidents could escalate rapidly. China’s Quiet but Steady Arctic Ambitions While Russia’s presence is overt, China’s Arctic strategy is more subtle—and equally concerning to Western planners. Beijing calls itself a “near-Arctic state,” a label that has raised eyebrows in Europe and North America. Through investments, research stations, and partnerships, China is laying the groundwork for long-term influence. Britain shares NATO’s concern that China could use civilian projects for dual-use purposes, blending scientific research with intelligence gathering and infrastructure control. As Arctic shipping routes become commercially viable, China’s interest in controlling parts of the supply chain only grows. London’s alignment with these concerns reflects a broader shift in UK foreign policy: China is no longer viewed solely as an economic partner, but as a strategic competitor. Trump, Greenland, and Strategic Reality Donald Trump’s repeated interest in Greenland—most famously his suggestion that the United States should buy it—was widely mocked at the time. Yet behind the headlines was a strategic logic that many Western governments now openly acknowledge. Greenland sits at the heart of the Arctic, hosting vital air and naval routes between North America and Europe. It is also rich in rare earth minerals critical for modern technology and defense systems. As ice recedes, Greenland’s strategic value only increases. Britain’s current position, which aligns with Trump’s warnings about Arctic vulnerabilities, shows how quickly political perceptions can change. What once seemed unconventional now appears prescient. NATO’s Arctic Awakening NATO has traditionally focused on Eastern Europe and the North Atlantic. The Arctic, despite its importance, received less coordinated attention. That is changing. Britain’s talks with NATO reflect a broader alliance effort to integrate Arctic defense into its core strategy. This includes: Increased joint military exercises in cold-weather environments Enhanced monitoring of Russian and Chinese activity Strengthening cooperation with Arctic nations like Norway, Canada, and Denmark Protecting critical undersea and satellite infrastructure For Britain, this is also about credibility. As a leading NATO member and a key military power, the UK wants to demonstrate that it can contribute meaningfully beyond its immediate geography. Climate Change as a Security Multiplier One of the most striking aspects of Arctic security is how closely it is tied to climate change. Melting ice is not just an environmental issue—it is a strategic one. New sea lanes shorten travel between Asia and Europe, while access to oil, gas, and minerals becomes easier. This transformation increases competition and reduces natural barriers that once limited military movement. Britain’s involvement reflects recognition that climate-driven changes are reshaping the security landscape faster than traditional institutions were designed to handle. In this sense, Arctic security is a preview of future global challenges where environmental change and geopolitics collide. Domestic and Diplomatic Balancing Acts Britain’s Arctic engagement is not without challenges. Increased military involvement raises questions about defense spending, priorities, and escalation risks. Diplomatically, London must balance deterrence with dialogue, avoiding actions that could unnecessarily provoke Russia while still protecting allied interests. There is also the question of public awareness. Arctic security lacks the visibility of conflicts like Ukraine, making it harder to sustain political attention. Yet policymakers increasingly argue that prevention is cheaper—and safer—than crisis response. What This Means Going Forward Britain’s talks with NATO mark an important shift in how the Arctic is viewed: not as a distant frontier, but as a central arena in 21st-century security. Agreement with Trump-era assessments on Russia, China, and Greenland underscores how geopolitical realities can outlast political controversies. As competition intensifies, the Arctic will likely become a testing ground for cooperation, deterrence, and strategic foresight. Britain’s involvement signals that mid-sized powers are no longer content to watch from the sidelines. Final Thoughts The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth—and so are the geopolitical tensions surrounding it. Britain’s move to boost Arctic security with NATO reflects a growing consensus that ignoring the High North is no longer an option. Whether driven by Russia’s militarization, China’s quiet expansion, or lessons drawn from Trump’s blunt warnings, one truth stands out: the future of global security may well be shaped at the top of the world, where ice, ambition, and power now intersect.
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