Supply chain intelligence company EcoVadis launched its Responsible Beauty Initiative in 2017. And now, just this month, the L’OCCITANE Group joined the founding membership team, alongside L’Oréal, Coty, Groupe Rocher, Groupe Clarins, Cosnova Beauty, and LVMH.
In the company’s recent press release announcing the news, Adrien Geiger, Chief Sustainability Officer at L’OCCITANE Group and Global Head of L’OCCITANE en Provence, says, “We need to move towards greater resilience in all human activity, including in the way our economies work. As a family business, we have the chance to be able to think differently.”
“Our goal,” he says, “is not to generate profit in the short term, but to create a company that will still be here in 100 years.” And this is the reason he sees the new partnership with RBI as a valuable one.
“Our partnership with EcoVadis and membership in the Responsible Beauty Initiative,” explains Geiger, “will help us further our efforts toward a ‘regenerative’ business, meaning to do business while restoring nature and protecting global biodiversity.”
Creating a beauty supply chain with less risk and more transparency
In collaboration with EcoVadis, L’OCCITANE aims to carefully evaluate “100% of their high-risk suppliers by the end of 2020,” according to the release. Ove the past year the company has looked carefully at the sustainability of its 100 “most strategic” suppliers to key in on high-risk partners and practices and respond accordingly.
Through these sorts of partnerships, EcoVadis and RBI aim to help cosmetics and personal care industry leaders develop shared sustainability performance objectives and best practices as well as tools to facilitate more efficient supply chain businesses.
“EcoVadis is thrilled to welcome the L’OCCITANE Group to the Responsible Beauty Initiative,” Pierre-Francois Thaler, Co-CEO of EcoVadis, tells the press, adding, “L’OCCITANE’s participation has the potential to create a profound impact for their business and the entire industry.”
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Deanna Utroske understands that building a beauty business that can sustain both predictable and disruptive events in culture, society, and the environment is of tremendous importance to cosmetics and personal care companies all along the supply chain. Hers is a leading voice in the industry as well as in the indie beauty movement. As Editor of CosmeticsDesign.com, she writes daily news about the business of beauty in the Americas region and regularly produces video interviews with cosmetics, fragrance, personal care, and packaging experts as well as with indie brand founders.
