L’Oréal backs 13 startups for sustainable beauty innovations
L’Oréal has revealed the 13 companies now part of its second L’AcceleratOR cohort, a €100 million effort to advance sustainable progress within the beauty sector. These firms, operating across eight nations, were picked to create responses to environmental pressures, marking the first time the program has centered on water technology.
The five-year partnership with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership extends the initiative’s first group, which was unveiled earlier this year. This expansion shows L’Oréal’s focus on expanding game-changing ideas by teaming with startups and smaller businesses.
Ezgi Barcenas, L’Oréal’s Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer, explained that the company aims to push boundaries in beauty through new approaches. “This second L’AcceleratOR cohort reflects our ambition to bring together entrepreneurial ingenuity, scientific progress and the global reach of L’Oréal to help scale breakthrough innovations,” she said.
Among the selected firms are Arda Biomaterials (UK), which produces plant-based leather substitutes, and Bormioli Luigi (Italy), specializing in lightweight glass containers. Others, including Laminar (USA) and Waterplan (USA), use AI-based tools to manage water use and protect biodiversity.
James Cole, the institute’s Chief Innovation Officer, noted that L’Oréal’s ongoing support proves how forward-thinking brands can steer the industry toward better outcomes. “The continued investment and support to sustainability innovation shown by L’Oréal demonstrates the power of foresighted brands to lead the market towards better solutions for all,” he added.
By prioritizing scalable solutions, from packaging improvements to water conservation, it supports broader industry moves toward circular models and lower ecological harm.
Participants will now work with L’Oréal’s research teams to refine prototypes and test market viability. The program’s structure includes mentorship from industry experts and access to L’Oréal’s global supply chain, ensuring selected startups can overcome key development hurdles.
The initiative also introduces a new focus on water stewardship, addressing a critical gap in current beauty industry efforts. Waterplan, for instance, will deploy its AI platform to optimize water usage in manufacturing, while Laminar aims to restore degraded ecosystems through data-driven conservation strategies.
