THE SUSTAINABILITY INTERVIEW
Supporting climate adaptation and resilience While much corporate focus remains on emissions reduction, adaptation and preparing communities and systems for the impacts of climate change is also key to L’ Oréal’ s strategy.
One example is a project in India supporting female urban workers through parametric insurance. Parametric insurance provides payouts based on predefined triggers, such as temperature thresholds, rather than assessed losses. In this case, workers receive compensation when extreme heat affects their income or health.“ It’ s delivering strong results and can expand beyond India,” Ezgi says.
Driving consumer engagement through circular design At the consumer level, L’ Oréal is working to translate sustainability into tangible product experiences. One key area is refillable packaging, which reduces material use and waste. Refillable systems typically involve a durable primary container and a lighter refill unit. These often come at a lower price point, providing both environmental and economic benefits.
Developing these systems requires coordination across multiple teams – packaging, formulation and industrial operations must work together to ensure performance and desirability.
This reflects L’ Oréal’ s focus on“ multisolving” – addressing multiple challenges simultaneously.“ We have to solve for sustainability and desirability at the same time,” Ezgi says.
Consumer adoption depends not only on environmental benefits but
CREDIT: GERALDINE HENRICH-KOENIS also on convenience, aesthetics and price. L’ Oréal is therefore investing in design to ensure refillable products meet consumer expectations.
The company is also collaborating with retail partners to improve visibility and accessibility. Retailers play a critical role in communicating product benefits and influencing purchasing decisions.
By testing different messages, formats and price points, L’ Oréal aims to understand consumer behaviour and identify what drives adoption.
28 August 2026