The Estée Lauder Companies’ Sustainable Upgrades in Belgium

With world-known brands like Clinique, MAC, Too Faced and Bobbi Brown, The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) is one of the world’s largest cosmetics businesses. 

The industry has significant impacts on the environment, from water use and packaging waste to chemical pollution and carbon emissions. 

Upgrades to ELC’s manufacturing and fulfilment campus in Oevel, Belgium are strengthening its sustainability efforts, including through treatment of water, energy efficiency and waste management. 

“Oevel exemplifies how we’re committed to advancing sustainability for the long term,” says Nancy Mahon, Chief Sustainability Officer at ELC.

“Its leadership in biotech and ingredient sustainability, paired with innovative practices in a historic setting, reflects our dedication to reducing our environmental footprint and setting new benchmarks for sustainable operations.”  

About the Oevel facility 

Oevel, Belgium is home to ELC’s largest global manufacturing and distribution campus. 

It has a workforce of more than 1000 employees and specialises in the production, filling and distribution of its makeup and skincare portfolio. 

Every year, it produces more than 100 million units. 

The hub is home to many of ELC’s luxury brands, including La Mer and Estée Lauder. 

ELC has had a presence in Belgium for nearly 60 years and aims to fulfil many of its sustainability targets through developments in the country. 

Water treatment and recycling 

ELC says it is actively deploying next-generation water treatment and recycling technologies in the facility, expected to make a significant enhancement to its water recycling rates and reduce its needs for incoming water. 

The facility has increased its water recycling rates from 59% to 85%, bringing annual water reuse from 23 million to 29 million litres.

This water, ELC says, is primarily reused for cleaning activities. 

This is enough to fill 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools. 

ELC’s Oevel facility has reduced its incoming water needs by 46%, which it says could grow to 93% through rainwater harvesting. 

It has also achieved a reduction of 3,000 tonnes of sludge waste annually, equivalent to 150 truckloads. 

Energy use and waste management 

Since 2007, the Oevel site has sourced 100% renewable energy and ELC says it continues to invest in new alternative forms of energy. 

ELC is installing new solar arrays with capacities of 1.165kWp and 1.000kWp, capable of powering the equivalent of 195 homes per year. 

It is also investing in green mobility initiatives, transitioning away from traditional vehicles. 

The Oevel bike lease plan supports 350 ELC employees to cycle the equivalent of 14 times around the world every year. 

ELC is targeting zero waste to landfill and has made progress on this goal in Oevel. 

At the manufacturing and fulfilment sites, 86% and 98% of waste is recycled respectively. 

The site as a whole reuses more than 120 tonnes of waste each month. 

Biotechnology for sustainability 

Near ELC’s Oevel facilities, it has set up a BioTech hub in Olen, Belgium. 

This hub, it says, expands the company’s capacity to manufacture its proprietary, bio-based ingredients and technologies in-house at scale in a responsible way. 

“We’re focused on advancing sustainability across our end-to-end value chain — as well as driving increased quality, performance and agility to best advance our business and serve our consumers,” says Roberto Canevari, Chief Value Chain Officer at ELC. 

ELC aims to reduce batch cycle time and optimise output through this BioTech hub, increasing its capabilities while embedding sustainability. 

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