THE SUSTAINABILITY INTERVIEW

By publicly identifying gaps, L’ Oréal is inviting startups and innovators to co-create solutions.

The first call attracted nearly 1,000 applications from more than 100 countries, highlighting the global appetite for sustainable innovation. Selected startups enter an acceleration phase, supported by L’ Oréal’ s expertise and external partners including the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

The programme is designed to overcome common barriers – like complex processes and limited access to decision-makers – faced by startups when working with large corporations.

L’ Oréal addresses this by simplifying engagement and ensuring direct collaboration with internal experts. Pilots are developed over six to 12 months, with clear success metrics defined from the outset.

This structured approach enables both parties to test solutions and assess scalability. For Ezgi, the goal is not only to find solutions but to learn.“ Either way, the learnings will support us and the founders,” she explains.

Financing sustainability across multiple fronts Beyond innovation, L’ Oréal is deploying a range of financial mechanisms to support its sustainability goals. These include impact investment funds, debt financing and philanthropic initiatives. Each plays a distinct role in addressing different aspects of the sustainability challenge.

investment in the Sustainable Innovation Accelerator, running through 2030

The L’ Oréal Fund for Nature Regeneration, for example, focuses on restoring ecosystems while generating financial returns. Managed externally, the fund invests in projects across regions such as Latin America and Southeast Asia with the aim of demonstrating that environmental and financial performance can be aligned.

26 August 2026