Cosmetics conglomerate L’Oreal’s Garnier brand is using digital labelling to increase transparency around its haircare products’ environmental impact.
In the coming weeks, UK consumers will be able to access the environmental and social impact of Garnier’s haircare products, via a new online tool. The system is already available in France, where the company is headquartered, and will be introduced to other international markets in due course.
L’Oreal said an important part of achieving sustainability is accurately assessing the impact of products and then acting to reduce that impact. The cosmetics business said it has a responsibility to share this information with consumers so they can make informed choices when purchasing goods, and has opted for the digital labelling method.
The ‘Product Impact Labelling’ system includes a score on a scale from A to E, with an “A” product considered as “best in class” in terms of its environmental impacts in its category. The score takes into account 14 planetary impact factors such as greenhouse gas emissions, water scarcity, ocean acidification or impact on biodiversity, which is measured at every stage of a product’s lifecycle.
Last month, luxury fashion retail group Yoox Net-a-Porter announced a new digital ID for some of its clothing ranges, aimed at improving transparency about product provenance.
L’Oreal has announced several environmental goals recently, as well as multiple initiatives to help the organisation achieve those targets and improve its impact on the planet.
In November 2020, Garnier launched shampoo bars in plastic-free packaging, which the company said offer a 25% lower environmental impact across the product’s lifecycle than the traditional liquid shampoos produced by the brand.
This week’s digital labelling announcement coincided with the launch of Garnier’s ‘One Green Step Report’, which found 73% of UK respondents want to be more sustainable this year. And some 62% of those intending to make an environmental/sustainability resolution in 2021 said reducing their use of plastic products is their top green priority.
[Image credit: L’Oreal]
