Consumers with a preference for B Corp certified brands will be pleased to know the L’OCCITANE Group now has the stamp of approval from what is one of the world’s most trusted and recognisable sustainability verification bodies, B Lab.
L’Occitane’s certification recognises that the brand meets high standards of performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. The milestone reflects the Group’s ongoing efforts in community empowerment, biodiversity protection, waste reduction, and climate change mitigation.
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Andrew Davies, B Lab Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand CEO, said: “When global businesses like L’OCCITANE GROUP certify, it sends a powerful message about the opportunity for large-scale businesses to design themselves for positive impact on people and planet. Their certification is a leading example of the accountability we need to see in the beauty sector, and our broader global economic system. We congratulate and warmly welcome L’OCCITANE GROUP to the growing community of over 650 B Corps in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.”
L’Occitane’s Bondi Junction store was its first Green Boutique in Australia.
Circular economy practices
I’m a big fan of L’Occitane because of the efforts the brand has made to reduce waste – which is a huge problem in the beauty industry – in favour of circular practices. L’Occitane offers free TerraCycle recycling in all boutiques nationwide, collecting 24 tonnes of beauty waste to date, and diverting over 3 million pieces of ‘unrecyclable’ waste from landfills to be transformed into innovative eco products. In addition to recycling, L’Occitane minimises waste with their Solid Shampoo Bars, offering an environmentally-friendly liquid shampoo alternative with 100% recycled FSC cardboard packaging.
“Our multifaceted approach is key to helping us tackle pollution caused by waste, since there is no single miracle cure to the problem,” says David Bayard, Packaging R&D Director at L’Occitane en Provence, France. “We have put a particular focus on reducing waste, by trying to eliminate unnecessary or single-use packaging. Where packaging is still needed, we will continue to promote a circular economy, using recycled and recyclable materials.”
Here’s what the brand aims to achieve by 2025:
• 100% of bottles made of 100% recycled plastic.
• 100% of owned stores globally, with a recycling service.
• 100% of plastic packaging, recyclable, compostable or reusable (following EMAF guidelines).
• 100% of our aluminium tubes now use 95% recycled aluminium, since 2022.
• Reduce total plastic consumption by 10% vs 2019
Local initiatives for positive outcomes
L’Occitane Australia has implemented several initiatives for positive outcomes:
• It uses 100% renewable energy to power L’Occitane’s boutiques, warehouse, and head office.
• It collaborates with The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, with the goal to plant 1 million trees by 2025, to regenerate bushfire and flood-affected areas.
• It’s going into its third year of partnership with The Fred Hollows Foundation, L’Occitane works to help address the eye health gap, focusing on remote Northern Territory communities where vision loss is 3 times more likely for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Pierre-Emmanuel Joffre, L’Occitane General Manager, said: “L’Occitane is proud to announce our B Corp certification, a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering positive change globally. This certification is not just a recognition; it is a declaration of our pledge to contribute to a better world. Incorporating sustainability practices into our operations, we aim to make a positive difference in local communities. Our commitment extends beyond product excellence to initiatives that uplift and empower. We are proud to integrate sustainability into our ethos, ensuring that every action we take aligns with our values.
“As an organisation, we recognise the urgency of addressing global challenges. As a company, we are excited to embark on this journey, and with a steadfast commitment, we look forward to creating a lasting impact that extends well beyond the next three years. Our B Corp certification is a symbol of this passion, a symbol of our commitment to shaping a better future for all. Together, let us continue to redefine beauty, not only in products but also in the positive impact we make on the world.”
In 2021, L’Occitane launched its first-ever Green Store in Australia, in Bondi Junction – a major milestone in its sustainability journey. The boutique was designed in conjunction with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) through years of planning, and has achieved a 5-Star Green Star Certified Rating for Interiors.
L’Occitane customers are encouraged to reduce personal waste through various options, including 22 eco-refills that save approximately 80% of plastic compared to original packaging. The brand introduced Refill Fountains in 2021, allowing consumers to refill products in Forever Bottles or the original packaging.
L’Occitane offer pretty ‘forever’ bottles that you can refill in some stores.
The Forever Bottle, is made from 100% recycled aluminium, and reduces plastic use by 94% per refill, offering both environmental and financial benefits. L’Occitane Refill Fountains are currently available at these boutiques, with plans to continue to grow nationwide:
1. Bondi Junction (NSW)
2. Booragoon (WA)
3. Broadway (NSW)
4. Carindale (QLD)
5. Castle Towers (NSW)
6. Chermside (QLD)
7. Doncaster (VIC)
8. Geelong (VIC)
9. Highpoint (VIC) – from April
10. Hobart (TAS)
11. Melbourne Central (VIC) – from April
12. Miranda (NSW)
13. Murray Street (WA)
14. Queens Plaza (QLD)
15. Toowoomba (QLD)
16. Warringah Mall (NSW)