Sustainability

In order to ensure safety and efficiency through ranges which are 100% natural, L’Occitane invests in research and dermatologically tests all of its products. For example, the Appellation of Controlled Origin label (A.O.C) shows that the whole process, from the care taken while picking up ingredients to the benefits of the products and the respect to local communities’ traditions, are being handled without affecting environment.

Some of our products are also Ecocert certified. Ecocert is a French company based in 50 countries which establishes the highest quality standards in terms of cosmetics made from natural substances. In order to be Ecocert-approved, the products have to respect the following parameters: a minimum of 95% of natural ingredients or of ingredients of natural origin and a minimum of 10% of the ingredients certified as organic. Synthetic fragrances or dyes, silicones and mineral oils are not allowed.

L’Occitane uses paper, cardboard and wood coming from sustainably managed forests which received the label of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The principles of FSC are based on the fulfillment of international treaties and respect the rights of indigenous people, forest workers and local communities.

This concern also led the brand to develop a project called Clean Factory, which consists in separating and collecting all the materials which could be recycled such as glass, paper, wood, plastic or aluminum.

In 1989, the company started a program of sustainable development in the production of Shea butter in Burkina Faso. In 2006, it created the first long-lasting organic plantation of large scale in Corsica, in order to protect the Corsican “maquis”, the dense and shrubby vegetation so representative of the island.

That same year, the company created the L’OCCITANE Foundation, supporting three causes: literacy and support for women in developing countries, the combat against blindness and help for visually-impaired people – since 1997, L’Occitane’s packaging also includes Braille Labeling – and the preservation of threatened traditional cultures.