L’Oréal Groupe, the world’s leading beauty company, is opening the first call for applications for its newly launched Sustainable Innovation Accelerator.  This ambitious program, endowed with €100 million over 5 years, is designed to address the critical solution gaps within the industry and accelerate the delivery of L’Oréal’s sustainability ambitions. 

Consistent with L’Oréal’s existing innovation culture – the accelerator program focuses on key areas: low carbon and climate smart solutions, water-resilience solutions, nature-based solutions, alternative ingredients and materials, eliminating fossil plastic use and plastic waste, circularity and resources management, and sustainable and inclusive business models. 

L’Oréal has partnered with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) to scout, identify, pilot, and scale disruptive solutions within the beauty industry. CISL’s extensive network of over 40,000 people driving impact and deep expertise in sustainable business development will provide crucial support to selected applicants through an up to 12-month cohort program.

"At L'Oréal, we have always embraced and nurtured innovation, co-creating with partners across our value chain to drive positive change within the beauty industry," said Ezgi Barcenas, Chief

Corporate Responsibility Officer of the L'Oréal Groupe. "As we work with our ecosystem to pave the way for a more sustainable future, we know that we have to be even more intentional in seeking, advancing and scaling pioneering solutions. We are looking forward to collaborating with a growing number of innovators and problem solvers worldwide."

James Cole, Chief Innovation Officer at CISL and Executive Director of Canopy, added, "In today's rapidly changing world, collaboration is key to driving meaningful progress. We are thrilled to partner with L'Oréal on this important initiative, leveraging our combined expertise to source and accelerate commercially relevant solutions for the challenges facing the beauty industry and beyond."

Start-ups, SMEs and established companies with innovative solutions are invited to apply. Successful candidates will benefit from a custom acceleration program including coaching, mentorship and potential pilot and investment opportunity to support their innovation at scale.