L’Oréal grows biodiversity across the UK with The Real Wild Estates Company

By Austyn King | Published: 29-Oct-2021

With the UK ranked among the least biodiverse countries globally, the beauty brand owner aims to restore 50,000 hectares of degraded habitats across the region to support local wildlife, while creating 1,000 jobs

As countries across the world prepare to band together to tackle the growing climate crisis at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) next week, L’Oréal is throwing its weight behind restoring biodiversity and rewilding efforts in the UK by partnering with The Real Wild Estates Company (RWEC) to provide habitats and job opportunities for humans and nature alike.

Today, the UK is said to be among the most nature-depleted countries in the world, having lost more than half of its biodiversity – ranking in the bottom 10% globally and the bottom of all G7 nations, according to RWEC.

Working through its sustainable investment fund the L’Oréal Fund for Nature Regeneration (LFNR), the owner of Maybelline and Nyx will support RWEC's efforts to source and manage locations suitable for nature restoration, regenerative agriculture and rewilding, enhancing local wildlife and ecosystems as well as providing new jobs and income opportunities for rural communities, including those in the environmental sector.

It aims to restore a minimum of 50,000 hectares of degraded habitats across the UK, creating 1,000 jobs as a result, and plans to expand the project further into Europe to restore an additional 100,000 hectares.

Speaking about the project, Alexandra Palt, Executive Vice-President, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer of L'Oréal and Executive Vice-President of the Fondation L’Oréal said: “We all have to find solutions to help restore our planet. Beyond the transformation of our business model, L’Oréal wants to help address some of today’s most pressing social and environmental challenges directly.

“With the L’Oréal Fund for Nature Regeneration, we can make a difference to biodiversity and, in turn, help battle climate change.”

According to L’Oréal, better management of biodiversity could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30%, yet currently only receives 3% of the funding dedicated to climate change.

By 2030, the LFNR hopes to restore one million hectares of degraded ecosystems, capture between 15 and 20 tonnes of CO2 and create hundreds of job opportunities through supporting projects dedicated to conserving or restoring natural habitats, such as in marine areas and forests, as well as supporting surrounding communities by providing sustainable job opportunities.

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