EPA Recognizes L'Oréal USA Among Nation's Leading Green Power Users

New Solar Energy Projects in Arkansas and Kentucky Accelerate Company's Transition to Renewable Energy

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May 05, 2017, 08:00 ET

NEW YORK, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, L'Oréal USA announced that its efforts to expand the use of renewable energy enabled it to join the EPA's Green Power Partnership (GPP) TOP 100 list of the country's largest green power users. L'Oréal USA uses more than 86 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which represents 96 percent of its total power needs. L'Oréal USA was one of the companies that showed the largest increase in green power use and that moved up the ranking most since the last update.

The GPP is a voluntary program of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help increase the use of green power (i.e. zero-emissions electricity from renewable sources) among US organizations, so as to reduce the environmental impacts tied to conventional electricity use. Their National Top 100 list represents the largest green power users within their Partnership, combining for more than 34 billion kilowatt-hours annually.

This ranking is evidence of L'Oréal USA's accelerated transition to renewable energy across its operations. The company's first foray into solar energy was in 2011 with an installation at its Piscataway, New Jersey manufacturing facility. Over the last seven years, the company has developed sixteen solar installations, generating a total of 13.5 MW of energy and representing over 42 miles of solar panels. Nationwide, L'Oréal USA is now recognized as a leader in solar energy, and has been continuously named one of the top 25 companies for U.S. solar capacity by the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA).

"We are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for our green power use," said Jay Harf, Vice President of Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability. "By making the choice to use clean, renewable energy, our organization becomes more sustainable while also sending a message that using green power is a sound business decision and an important tool in reducing one's carbon footprint in the fight against climate change."

L'Oréal USA has favored as much onsite generation of green power as possible to help achieve its goal of 100% renewable electricity for its operations. Last October, L'Oréal USA announced large-scale, on-site solar projects for its two manufacturing plants in North Little Rock, Arkansas and Florence, Kentucky to be completed in 2017. These projects, alongside the purchase of locally-sourced renewable energy certificates, helped the company to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity for its U.S. manufacturing in 2016.

L'Oréal also appears on EPA's Long-term Green Power Contracts list, recognizing the company's 15-year contract to purchase green power. According to the U.S. EPA, L'Oréal's green power use of more than 86 million kWh is equivalent to the electricity use of nearly 8,000 average American homes annually.

Under its global sustainability strategy, Sharing Beauty with All, L'Oréal is committed to reducing the environmental impacts across its full value chain. At the end of 2016, the company had already reduced its worldwide CO2 emissions by 67% in absolute terms (from a 2005 baseline), propelled by an 84% reduction in the US last year. The company has also committed to reduce its water consumption and waste per finished product by 60% by 2020. L'Oréal USA has already reduced its water consumption per finished product by -52% per finished product by the end of 2016. L'Oréal USA has achieved these milestones through the implementation of both large-scale and small-scale solutions throughout its facilities.

For more information on the L'Oréal USA's sustainability program and its Sharing Beauty with All objectives, commitments and achievements, please visit www.sharingbeautywithall.com.

About L'Oréal USA
L'Oréal USA is the largest subsidiary of the L'Oréal Group, the world's leading beauty company. L'Oréal USA manages a portfolio of more than 30 iconic beauty brands, including Garnier, Giorgio Armani Beauty, Kérastase, Lancôme, La Roche-Posey, L'Oréal Paris and Yves Saint Laurent Beauté. L'Oréal USA also serves as the international hub for the product development and marketing strategy for L'Oréal's 18 American brands: Baxter of California, Carol's Daughter, Clarisonic, Dermablend, Essie, IT Cosmetics, Kiehl's, Matrix, Maybelline New York, Mizani, NYX Professional Makeup, Pureology, Ralph Lauren Fragrances, Redken, Softsheen-Carson, SkinCeuticals and Urban Decay. Generating more than $6 billion in sales annually, L'Oréal USA is committed to growth through sustainable innovation, driven by the company's Sharing Beauty With All ambition for sustainable development across the Group's value chain. The company is headquartered in New York City, employs more than 11,000 people, and operates administrative, research, manufacturing and distribution facilities across 14 states, including Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Washington. For more information, visit www.lorealusa.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @LOrealUSA.

About EPA's Green Power Partnership
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to use green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with electricity use. The Partnership currently has more than 1,400 Partner organizations voluntarily using more than 40 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500® companies; small and medium sized businesses; local, state, and federal governments; and colleges and universities. For additional information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower.

SOURCE L'Oreal USA