Responsible beauty Initiative brings L’Occitane on board
L’Occitane Group, the French natural cosmetics and sustainability pioneer, is the latest major company to join the Responsible Beauty Initiative (RBI).
The beauty initiative, which is powered by EcoVadis, is aiming to accelerate ethical, social and the environmental performance and progress throughout the industry supply chain.
EcoVadis is a provider of business sustainability ratings, and includes major beauty and personal care players such as Clarins, Groupe Rocher, L’Oréal, LVMH and Cosnova among its members.
The EcoVadis sustainability ratings platform is a foundation and benchmark used to measure supplier sustainability, performance and engagement.
“We need to move towards greater resilience in all human activity, including in the way our economies work,“ said Adrien Geiger, Chief Sustainability Officer at L’OCCITANE Group and Global Head of L’Occitane en Provence.
“Our partnership with EcoVadis and membership in the Responsible Beauty Initiative will help us further our efforts toward a ‘regenerative’ business, meaning to do business while restoring nature and protecting global biodiversity.”
“Our partnership with EcoVadis and membership in the Responsible Beauty Initiative will help us further our efforts toward a ‘regenerative’ business, meaning to do business while restoring nature and protecting global biodiversity.”
Seed Beauty files suit against Kylie Cosmetics
Seed Beauty has filed a lawsuit in the US, naming Coty and Kylie Jenner’s corporate entity King Kylie LLC, just a few weeks after also announcing its intention to file a case against Kim Kardashian’s KKW Beauty.
Beauty brand incubator Seed Beauty’s latest judicial intervention aims to stop Coty’s alleged ‘theft of pioneering and proprietary digital-first business models that has revolutionised the cosmetics industry’.
The alleged actions are happening via Coty’s multi-billion dollar deals with members of the Kardashian family, which is famed for its reality TV series that has helped build a huge family business empire.
The suit alleges that the beauty conglomerate ‘gained unlawful access to Seed’s proprietary strategies for developing and growing cosmetics brands’ through its acquisition of the half sisters’ cosmetics brands. Seed Beauty co-created both of the sister’s beauty product lines.
Coty bought the Kardashian/Jenner brands in November 2019, with a 51% stake in Klyie Jenner’s Kylie Cosmetics for $600 million, and then bought a 20% stake in KKW Beauty last month for $200 million.
As the company charged with formulating, manufacturing, packaging and shipping the products made for the sisters, Seed Beauty claims that it is the owner of proprietary and confidential information, which is now at risk of being misappropriated by Coty.
L’Oréal to acquire US skincare brand Thayers Natural Remedies
L’Oréal has signed an agreement to acquire Thayers Natural Remedies, a US-based natural skincare brand from its owner, Henry Thayer Company.
L’Oréal says that the brand will be integrated into L’Oréal’s Consumer Products Division, where its presence in the multichannel arena, including natural grocery stores and e-commerce, will be further expanded.
The company, which was established in 1847, is headquartered in Easton Connecticut and is best known for its iconic Witch Hazel Aloe Vera Formula Facial Toner. As a heritage brand, the company is strong on skincare and is particularly known for its high quality toners and astringents.
Thayers Natural Remedies recorded sales of US $44 million in 2019. “With a more than 170-year heritage, Thayers Natural Remedies is a beloved American brand that has stayed true to its roots as it has evolved its product offerings and forged a strong connection with consumers,“ said Stéphane Rinderknech, President and CEO of L’Oréal USA, Executive Vice President North America.
“Built on a foundation of top-rated skincare products, the brand is more relevant today than ever before. We believe in its growth potential and unique positioning in the mass skincare market.”
Voyant acquires KIK Personal Care
Beauty player Voyant has announced that it is expanding its portfolio through the acquisition of Kik Personal Care.
Both enterprises are based in Illinois, in the Midwest, and with the help of private equity backing, the company will be increasing its footprint through Kik’s broad portfolio of business, which includes beauty and household products, with considerable footprint in the hotel industry.
Voyant makes haircare, bath and body and skincare products for a variety of brands and with the KIk acquisition it will now have 15 manufacturing sites worldwide.
“The two businesses are highly complementary in many areas, and this combination will benefit our customers in numerous ways,” said Voyant chief executive officer Richard McEvoy.
“In addition, the acquisition of [Kik Personal Care] will diversify the Voyant Beauty business by adding new customers, unique product categories and aerosol manufacturing capabilities. Moreover, it will expand our manufacturing network and provide entry into hotel guest amenities, a new line of business for us.”
Credo targets Cleaner Beauty with sustainable packaging guidelines
Credo has added further gravitas to its position as a leader in the clean beauty movement after launching new guidelines for brands on packaging.
The retailer says it wants to substantially reduced waste, increase the demand for recycled content and offer clear guidance on how to dispose of packaging in an effort to help brands improve their sustainability and clean beauty profiles.
The new policy will require brands to replace virgin petrochemical plastic with at least 50% or more recycled packaging, while ensuring compostable or recyclable claims are verifiable and emphasising re-usable packaging systems.
The retailer says that all of its brands partners will now have to comply with these new requirements by June 2023.