Industrial commitment to green and sustainable chemistry: using renewable materials & developing eco-friendly processes and ingredients in cosmetics

Abstract

Integrating green chemistry principles into the development of new processes or ingredients and the re-evaluation of existing processes and ingredients is a pivotal element of sustainable development. The aim of this article is to provide a brief description of how L'Oréal, a leading specialist in cosmetic products, is committed to this objective. This commitment is founded on corporate social responsibility (CSR) based on the respect for the five axes of vigilance as shown below, thus allowing analysis throughout the lifecycle of products. The approach of the group regarding the use of renewable raw materials, the development of environmentally-friendly processes and the introduction of green indicators will be presented in more detail later. To illustrate how a green process is implemented we have chosen a recent development, “C-glycosylation in water”, as well as an earlier example, “ceramide synthesis from renewable raw materials” to demonstrate long-term commitment.