Hj interviews l'oréal professional products division uk and ireland managing director

HJ spoke with Béatrice Dautzenberg, managing director L'Oréal Professional Products Division UK and Ireland to hear about the brand's plans for sustainability in 2022 and beyond. If you had to outline in one sentence what L'Oréal Professional Products Division sustainability aims for 2022 were, what would you say? To support and empower all salons and stylists on their sustainable transformation and journey so that as one community, we can shape the sustainable future of the Industry and have a greater positive impact on our planet. The global narrative is (thankfully) now very much tuned into the impact society and business is having on the environment - when did L'Oréal Professional Products Division start putting sustainability front and centre of their plans? I understand it's been a focus for many years and not just a response to current conversations, would love to find out more about the history… At L’Oréal, we began our sustainability journey over 40 years ago, and since then we have made positive progress but there is still so much more to do. In 2013 we launched ‘Sharing Beauty With All’, announcing our L’Oréal sustainability commitments towards 2020.  As our planet continues to face ever evolving challenges, in 2020 we have launched ‘L’Oréal For The Future’, a radical transformation programme outlining 2030 sustainability commitments. As we continue this journey, we have already reached some positive milestones; with an 81% reduction of CO2 emissions and a 49% reduction in water consumption, in our plants and distribution centres since 2005.⁺ Over the last decade L’Oréal Professional Products Division has also reached encouraging milestones; with 85% of products being manufactured in carbon-neutral factories⁺⁺ and 95% of L’Oréal Professional Products manufactured in Europe, being produced in water loop plants. ⁺⁺⁺ As part of L’Oréal For The Future, L’Oréal Professional Products have also launched ‘Hairstylists For The Future’, a dedicated programme to support salons and stylists on their sustainable transformation.   What's top of the sustainability agenda for L'Oréal Professional Products Division for the next 5 years? We have big ambitions over the next 5 years and beyond. The L’Oréal Professional Products Division recently launched ‘Hairstylists for the Future’, a programme that supports all salons and stylists across 5 key areas; water, energy, carbon footprint, preserving natural resources and lastly, to encourage all pros to use their powerful voices as sustainability advocates to positively impact their local communities and client choices. We want to equip salons and stylists with the training and tools to facilitate their sustainable transformation and have created toolkits and videos available on our online education platform L’Oréal Access as part of the Sustainably Savvy Series. Over the next 5 years our mission is to reach all hair professionals and to embark them on this journey, as well as continuing to bring innovation across our products, packaging and services to support the sustainability agenda. We very recently launched our Kérastase refillable pouch, made with 82% less plastic* and each of our brands continue to innovate and take steps forward. Our recent partnership with Gjosa sees us piloting new innovative technology, such as water-saving shower heads with the aim of reducing water waste at the backwash. Our distribution centre in Bury have also implemented some positive sustainable initiatives that have seen huge reductions in plastic waste. In the last year they have saved 7.4 tonnes of plastic by addressing various areas of change through the materials they use and the elimination of unnecessary packaging. L’Oréal as a company also have very ambitious targets over the coming years that all L’Oréal brands will contribute to. To share some examples, by 2025 we have committed to achieving carbon neutrality in all our sites by improving energy efficiency and using 100% renewable energy as well as ensuring 100% of our plastic packaging is refillable, reusable, recyclable or compostable.   If there's one thing hair salons can address today in terms of sustainability, what is it? There are many things that salons can do to take sustainable steps forward - and every step, however small, has an impact. As a first step we believe knowledge is power and understanding more about sustainability, specifically in the salon environment, can help guide salons in the quick changes they could make today. We have created dedicated training and toolkits on L’Oréal Access to help salons embark on this first step. For salons who have already embarked on learning and upskilling, a next step could be to look at forging partnerships with progressive companies that can help them in aspects such as waste management. L’Oréal partner with Green Salon Collective, a company that allows salons to recycle hair, used foils, empty colour tubes, PPE, plastic, paper and even salon towels.   If there's one thing the hair industry as a whole can look to improve when it comes to environmental impact, what would it be? I think the biggest thing that the industry can do is to make sustainability a top priority and make a start, even if the steps feel small. I also believe that salons and hair professionals can play a big role in using their voices to positively impact the local community and amongst their clients. Sustainability has become a big focus for consumers, with recent data showing that 50% Of British adults would prefer to be associated with companies/brands that align with their values⁺⁺⁺⁺ – so we know that clients want to hear more about how salons are contributing to the sustainability agenda.   No one is perfect and no business gets it right every time, how important is it to be open and honest with your clients about eco aims? (I'm thinking from the perspective of a hairdresser rather than a brand, but are the principles of honesty, authenticity and communication the same?) I think the principles of authenticity and honesty are vital when it comes to sustainability. We are on this journey together and there is always more we can do, so being honest about where you are on your journey and the positive steps you have taken so far can only serve to build stronger connections with clients and within the community.  Sustainability can feel overwhelming at times, so it is important to start with an open conversation and to learn from each other, as well as ask for help and guidance. It is all about supporting each other as an industry and community to keep positively moving forward. Check out how salon owner Andrew Mulvenna is putting sustainability at the heart of his business.   SOURCES: ⁺loreal.com/en/commitments-and-responsibilities/for-the-planet/fighting-climate-change/ loreal.com/en/articles/sharing-beauty-with-all/optimised-water-consumption-and-recycling-water-on-site/ ⁺⁺loreal.com/en/articles/brands/hairstylists-for-the-future/ ⁺⁺⁺loreal-finance.com/en/annual-report-2020/professional-products-3-5-0/greening-haircare-3-5-4/ ⁺⁺⁺⁺Beauty Track 2020. Mintel Womenshaircare April 2021. Women 16-75 Social listening Covid time (June 2020-May 2021) compared to Pre-covid (June 2019-May 2020). Mintel tweaked toiletries * vs two Kérastase 250ml shampoo bottles