Our viewpoints

PRODUCT SAFETY

L'OCCITANE en Provence is committed to the safety and efficacy of its products and manufactures products that are fully compliant with the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest regulations in the world.

Around 30 people dedicate their work every day to ensure that our products are safe and comply with the regulations. The safety controls start at the design stage and continue throughout the entire product marketing lifecycle.

The ingredients we use are subject to rigorous selection and quality control and our internal experts regularly audit suppliers to make sure they comply with our strict internal guidelines. A team of experts (toxicologists, dermatologists, ophthalmologists, doctors, etc.), depending on the product developed, conduct strict evaluation procedures before products are launched to market. Our internal agronomists ensure the sustainability of agricultural practices related to our ingredients.

Final product safety is confirmed by more than 1,200 clinical tests per year, conducted by independent experts.

L'OCCITANE EN PROVENCE INGREDIENTS

When manufacturing products for our L'OCCITANE en Provence brand, we prefer to use the following ingredients:

• INGREDIENTS FROM PROVENCE AND THE MEDITERRANEAN
• MORE THAN 40 ESSENTIAL OILS including immortelle, lavender, cade, myrtle, rosemary and angelica
• FLORAL WATERS including verbena, rose, lavender and immortelle
• PLANT MACERATES
• MORE THAN 20 PLANT OILS including sweet almond, evening primrose and borage
• PLANT BUTTERS including shea, coconut and almond
• PLANT EXTRACTS including oily or aqueous extracts
• NATURAL EXFOLIERS including sugar, salt and almond hulls
• NATURAL ANTIOXIDANTS such as rosemary extract
• NATURAL GELIFIANTS
• MINERAL COLORANTS
• GMO-FREE ingredients
• GLUTEN FREE ingredients
• BIODEGRADABLE ingredients
• PURIFIED & SKIN-FRIENDLY WATER obtained using a triple filtration technique

The ingredients listed below are NOT used in L'OCCITANE en Provence products:

• ANIMAL MATTER or any by-product of animal origin, except for bee products such as honey, propolis (bee glue) and royal jelly
• PARABENS (used as a preservative) as these are suspected to be endocrine disruptors
• TRICLOSAN (used as a preservative) as it is suspected to be an endocrine disruptor
• DMDM HYDANTOIN (used as a preservative) as it generates formaldehyde and is classified CMR (Carcinogenic Mutagenic and Reprotoxic)
• BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) (used as an antioxidant) as it is suspected to be an endocrine disruptor
• BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) (used as an antioxidant) as it is suspected to be an endocrine disruptor
• BENZOPHENONES 1 AND 3 (used as an anti-UV sunscreen) as these are suspected to be endocrine disruptors, as well as proven to be harmful for the environment, notably corals
• CYCLOTETRASILOXANE (D4) (a silicone that is used to improve product texture) as it is suspected of to be an endocrine disruptor, as well as harmful for the environment
• PHTHALATES (used as fixing agents) as they are suspected to be endocrine disruptors
• MICROBEADS (solid plastic particles that are used in exfoliating and cleaning products) as these are particularly harmful for aquatic environments

We endeavour to create high quality products that are safe, efficient and pleasurable for our customers to use. To do so, we use certain ingredients because they provide specific properties that enhance our products.

We are constantly looking for more natural and "green" alternatives to the ingredients below, and reassure you that all L’OCCITANE en Provence products are fully compliant with the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest regulations in the world:

• ALLERGENS (found in perfumes or natural plant extracts, listing is compulsory, even if the concentration is very low)
• DISODIUM EDTA (used as a stabiliser as, when combined with other ingredients, it contributes to the stability of the formula over time)
• ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE (used as an anti-UV sunscreen that protects the skin and the product from harmful sunrays)
• FRAGRANCES (our perfumes are mostly built around a core of natural essences and all satisfy a stringent components charter, respecting the ban on phthalates, polycyclic musks or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs)
• MINERAL OIL DERIVATIVES (fatty substances used to improve sensoriality and maintain the quality of the formula over time)
• PEGS (used as emulsifiers that provide a pleasant texture and maintain the quality of the formula over time, or as cleaning or foaming agents that help enhance foam formation when the product is being applied)
• PHENOXYETHANOL (used as a preservative to maintain the quality of the formula over time)
• PHMB Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (used as a preservative to maintain the quality of the formula over time)
• SILICONES (used to provide a silky texture and a soft non-sticky finish, facilitating product application)
• SULFATES (used are emulsifiers or foaming agents to provide a pleasant texture, contribute to the uniform distribution of the product, and maintain the quality and stability of the formula over time)

To further reassure you, more information about the above ingredients can be found in this section of the website.

RECYCLING

L'OCCITANE en Provence has always been very conscious of the impact of packaging and the fundamental importance of eco-design and recycling. It is for this reason that for more than 10 years we have been launching initiatives such as eco-refill products, in-store recycling and launching our first bottle made out of 100% recycled plastic. We continue to make this a priority and to increase and improve these efforts.

We are committed to achieving a circular economy where every material used can have a second life. To do so, we are constantly working to make recycling more accessible, while also exploring innovative solutions to recycle all types of packaging, including those not currently accepted by standard recycling facilities.

We first introduced eco-refills in 2008 and currently offer 25 L'OCCITANE en Provence eco-refill products. Eco-refills allow to save at least 72% more material than the original containers (representing a saving of 292 tonnes of all material in fiscal year 2022!).

L'OCCITANE en Provence has been partnering with TerraCycle since 2014 to provide in-store recycling facilities for empty cosmetics containers.
We now offer in-store recycling at all of our owned stores in France, Australia, the UK and Ireland, the US and Canada, Korea, Japan, part of China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore. In 2021, seven new European markets joined the strategic partnership formed in 2014 with TerraCycle®: L'OCCITANE en Provence stores in Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. In addition, Austria has found a local partner to start the programme, China has extended its recycling service to 100% of its owned stores, India, Taiwan and Mexico have joined the project and Brazil will also offer an in-store recycling service in 2023.

Altogether, this will represent 76% of our owned stores across the world and we are continuing to expand this to include additional countries, with the objective of reaching 100% by 2025.

We have been working to increase the percentage of recycled plastic in our bottles for many years and are currently at 49.5%, with the objective of reaching 100% by 2025. We have also set a target to have 50% of our total mass of retail plastic manufactured in recycled plastic. Regarding recycling of plastic packaging, we are signatories to the New Plastic Economy (Ellen MacArthur) and our goal is to be 100% recyclable/reusable/compostable by 2025, while continuing to work with specialised suppliers to design lighter packaging that prioritises recycled materials in general.

L'OCCITANE en Provence cares deeply about our planet and we are committed to protecting biodiversity and nature. Recycling is a priority and we act responsibly to ensure minimal impact on the environment at every stage of the product lifecycle.
 

ALLERGENS

L'OCCITANE en Provence is committed to the safety and efficacy of its products and manufactures products that are fully compliant with the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest regulations in the world. We try to anticipate regulatory changes and adapt our products accordingly to guarantee their safety. We are always looking for more natural and ecological alternatives and to use them whenever possible.

Allergens are substances capable of causing an allergic reaction when a previously sensitised subject comes into contact with them. They may be natural or synthetic and are mostly harmless. Cosmetics products may occasionally cause allergic reactions, mainly contact allergies, although reactions are rare and are normally localised to the area where the product has been applied.

The European Regulation (EC) N° 1223/2009 published a list of allergenic substances that can be identified in perfumes or essential oils and requires that customers are informed about the presence of these in the product's list of ingredients. Substance presence must be clearly indicated when the concentration exceeds 0.001% for leave-on products and when the concentration exceeds 0.01% for rinse-off products.

L'OCCITANE en Provence has always been deeply committed to consumer safety and to protecting the environment and has therefore developed its own strict charter. This charter limits the use of allergens and ensures that sufficient information is made available for consumers. We have also identified a number of authorised substances as particularly controversial and have decided to prohibit their use in our products.

DISODIUM EDTA

L'OCCITANE en Provence is committed to the safety and efficacy of its products and manufactures products that are fully compliant with the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest regulations in the world. We try to anticipate regulatory changes and adapt our products accordingly to guarantee their safety. We are always looking for more natural and ecological alternatives and to use them whenever possible.

Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent whose molecules can form several bonds to a single metal ion, preventing them from adhering to a surface such as the skin or hair. It is used in certain cosmetics products because, when combined with other substances, it can act as a stabiliser. This enables products to maintain their ability to stimulate the senses.

The use of disodium EDTA causes concern as it is not considered environmentally friendly.

In Europe, under EC 1223/2009, there is currently no regulation that restricts the use of disodium EDTA, and it is not considered dangerous or harmful.
Outside of Europe, the only country with a regulation for this ingredient is Mexico, where it can be used up to a maximum of 2% in all cosmetics products.
In the United States, disodium EDTA is also classified as an additive that may be added directly to food for human consumption.

In general, we avoid using disodium EDTA and, where possible, try to replace it with another chelant: sodium gluconate. This is the case for almost all of our white products (creams and milks).

FRAGRANCES

L'OCCITANE en Provence is committed to the safety and efficacy of its products and manufactures products that are fully compliant with the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest regulations in the world. We try to anticipate regulatory changes and adapt our products accordingly to guarantee their safety. We are always looking for more natural and ecological alternatives and to use them whenever possible.

The compositions of fragrance, otherwise known as perfumes or parfum, are the olfactory constituents in perfumes and eaux de toilette. They are used in cosmetics products to provide a pleasant smell.

Fragrances may occasionally cause allergic reactions, mainly contact allergies, although reactions are rare and are normally localised to the area where the product has been applied.

For privacy concerns, perfumers keep compositions confidential, so the presence of perfume in cosmetics products is indicated simply by 'parfum/fragrance' in the list of ingredients. The presence of allergens listed in the European Regulation (EC) N° 1223/2009 is also listed according to the concentration and the type of product.

The European Regulation (EC) N° 1223/2009 published a list of allergenic substances that can be identified in perfumes or essential oils and requires that customers are informed about the presence of these in the product's list of ingredients. Substance presence must be clearly indicated when the concentration exceeds 0.001% for leave-on products and when the concentration exceeds 0.01% for rinse-off products.

L'OCCITANE en Provence has always been deeply committed to consumer safety and to protecting the environment and has therefore developed its own strict charter. This charter prohibits certain substances and limits the use of others and we ensure that sufficient information is made available for our consumers. We have also identified a number of authorised substances as particularly controversial and have decided to prohibit their use in our L'OCCITANE en Provence products. These include polycyclic musks, polycyclic hydrocarbons, phthalates, BHA and BHT, as well as certain allergens. We prohibit the use of perfumes in eye contour products and we have specific restrictions for baby, family, intimate hygiene and sensitive skin products.

The fragrance compositions that L'OCCITANE en Provence use comply with the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) standards. We ensure that our suppliers meet the specified fragrance safety requirements and our internal teams check the regulatory conformity of our fragrances. We also ensure the safety of our perfumed products through clinical tests. Through this double-checking procedure, L'OCCITANE en Provence is able to guarantee the safety of its perfumed products.

MINERAL OILS

L'OCCITANE en Provence is committed to the safety and efficacy of its products and manufactures products that are fully compliant with the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest regulations in the world. We try to anticipate regulatory changes and adapt our products accordingly to guarantee their safety. We are always looking for more natural and ecological alternatives and to use them whenever possible.

Mineral oils are hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum, such as paraffin oil, mineral oil, paraffin and hydrogenated mineral oil. They may be used in cosmetics products for their solvent, skin-protecting, antistatic, emollient or viscosity-controlling properties.

The use of mineral oils causes concern as they are not considered environmentally friendly.

L'OCCITANE en Provence has always been deeply committed to consumer safety and to protecting the environment and has therefore developed its own strict charter. This charter prohibits the use of mineral oils as a raw material in the majority of our L'OCCITANE en Provence products. However, in certain lipcare products and solid perfumes, we allow the presence of certain selected mineral oils after carefully checking the raw material.

PEGS

L'OCCITANE en Provence is committed to the safety and efficacy of its products and manufactures products that are fully compliant with the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest regulations in the world. We try to anticipate regulatory changes and adapt our products accordingly to guarantee their safety. We are always looking for more natural and ecological alternatives and to use them whenever possible.

PEGs belong to a family of ethoxylated compounds. They are used in cosmetics products for their emulsifying, thickening and foaming properties. However, the process of ethoxylation is not considered to be environmentally friendly.

There are currently no regulatory restrictions to using PEGs in cosmetics products. In the US, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)* evaluated the safety of these compounds in 2010 and concluded that PEGs are safe for use in cosmetics products, with a recommended concentration for each product category.

L'OCCITANE en Provence has always been deeply committed to consumer safety and to protecting the environment and has therefore developed its own strict charter. This charter limits the use of PEGs in our L'OCCITANE en Provence products.

*The CIR studies individual chemical compounds as they are used in cosmetics products and reviews and assesses the safety of cosmetics ingredients in an open, unbiased and open manner, publishing its results in peer-reviewed scientific literature.

PHENOXYETHANOL   

L'OCCITANE en Provence is committed to the safety and efficacy of its products and manufactures products that are fully compliant with the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest regulations in the world. We try to anticipate regulatory changes and adapt our products accordingly to guarantee their safety. We are always looking for more natural and ecological alternatives and to use them whenever possible.

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is used in cosmetics products to limit the growth of bacteria, yeast and mould. It is considered easy to use as it compatible with several formula textures and has little effect on the formula's stability and smell.

The use of phenoxyethanol causes concern as it could cause an allergic reaction on the skin if used in too high concentrations. It is also thought to be a potential endocrine disruptor, although the most recent scientific opinion declared that it was safe if used at a specified concentration.

The EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC 1223/2009) authorises the use of phenoxyethanol as a preservative in cosmetic formula at a maximum concentration of 1.0%. In October 2016* the Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety** also confirmed that phenoxyethanol was safe for use as preservative, provided the concentration does not exceed 1.0%.

L'OCCITANE en Provence has always been deeply committed to consumer safety and to protecting the environment and has therefore developed its own strict charter. As such, we only use phenoxyethanol in L'OCCITANE en Provence products at concentrations that are significantly lower (between 10% and 80% lower) than the maximum authorised level. We also decided not to use phenoxyethanol across L'OCCITANE en Provence's new portfolio.

To verify that a product is safe for our consumers, we conduct clinical tests to confirm the final product's safety.

POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE    

L'OCCITANE en Provence is committed to the safety and efficacy of its products and manufactures products that are fully compliant with the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest regulations in the world. We try to anticipate regulatory changes and adapt our products accordingly to guarantee their safety. We are always looking for more natural and ecological alternatives and to use them whenever possible.

Polyaminopropyl biguanide (PHMB) is used in cosmetics products as a preservative to protect against microbiological contamination, such as bacteria and fungi. The European authorities responsible for chemical substances believe that this substance might present risks for human health.

In Europe, according to EC Regulation 1223/2009, PHMB is authorised for use as a preservative as long as the concentration is equivalent or inferior to 0.3%. The Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (SCCS) takes a more cautious approach, however, and recommends that preservatives are used in cosmetics products only at concentrations equivalent or inferior to 0.1%.

In South East Asia, China, Taiwan, Australia and Brazil, the same restrictions apply as in Europe. That is, PHMB can be used as a preservative provided the concentration does not exceed 0.3%. In Korea, however, the maximum safe concentration is 0.05% and sprays are not included. In Japan, the maximum authorised concentration is 0.09%.

A minimal trace of PHMB has been detected in three L'OCCITANE en Provence products, although in each case the level is significantly below the European authorised level (ALMOND – Milk Concentrate; SHEA – Ultra-Rich Hand and Body Wash: SHEA – Dry Skin Foot Cream). We have therefore decided to replace PHMB with alternative substances and have thus definitively reformulated these three products.

L'OCCITANE en Provence has always been deeply committed to consumer safety and to protecting the environment and has therefore developed its own strict charter, which prohibits the use of PHMB.

SILICONES

L'OCCITANE en Provence is committed to the safety and efficacy of its products and manufactures products that are fully compliant with the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest regulations in the world. We try to anticipate regulatory changes and adapt our products accordingly to guarantee their safety. We are always looking for more natural and ecological alternatives and to use them whenever possible.

Silicones are derivatives of silicon present in liquid or solid form. They may be used in cosmetics products for their antistatic, emollient, moisturiser, solvent, viscosity-controlling and hair-conditioning properties.
Certain silicones are considered to be potentially harmful for the environment. Some are also suspected of being occlusive, and others may present potential human health risks.

There are several families of silicone that can be easily recognised by their INCI names that almost always end in 'cone' or 'siloxane':

1. 1. Cyclotetrasiloxane is classified as CMR2* and persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic. It is prohibited in cosmetics products except as a technically unavoidable impurity. 
2. 2. Cyclomethicone refers to cyclohexasiloxane and cyclopentasiloxane. These ingredients are restricted to 0.1% maximum in rinsed-off cosmetics products. There are no restrictions for their use in leave-on cosmetics products. For cyclopentasiloxane, the Revised Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety** Opinion and European Cosmetics Regulation both conclude that it is safe to use cyclopentasiloxane, except in aerosol hair products and spray-on solar products. We decided not to use these ingredients across all L'OCCITANE en Provence's new portfolio.
3. 3. Other silicones like dimethicone and trimethicone are not restricted for use in cosmetics products. We decided to not use these ingredients across all L'OCCITANE en Provence's new portfolio.

*The EU Cosmetics legislation contains provisions on the use of substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR substances) in cosmetics products. In general, the use of CMR substances is prohibited, apart from in exceptional cases. As a general principle, substances classified as CMR substances of category 1A, 1B or 2 are banned for use in cosmetics products.

**SCCS Opinion 1549/15

SULFATES

L'OCCITANE en Provence is committed to the safety and efficacy of its products and manufactures products that are fully compliant with the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest regulations in the world. We try to anticipate regulatory changes and adapt our products accordingly to guarantee their safety. We are always looking for more natural and ecological alternatives and to use them whenever possible.

Sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) are surfactants that help when mixing a number of ingredients. They are used in certain cosmetics products for their cleaning and foaming properties.
The use of sulfates causes concern as they may cause irritation to the eyes or skin. SLES is also part of the ethoxylated compounds family.

In Europe, under Regulation (EC) N°1223/2009, the use of these substances is not restricted. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) approved the safety of SLS and SLES outside of Europe in 1983, provided they are used in rinse-off products. In the US, for leave-on products, the authorised concentration should not exceed 1%. The CIR reconfirmed these regulations in 2002, following additional studies.

L'OCCITANE en Provence has always been deeply committed to consumer safety and to protecting the environment and has therefore developed its own strict charter. This charter prohibits the use of SLS and limits the use of SLES in our L'OCCITANE en Provence products, and only a few of our formulas still contain ALS. Where possible, we try to use surfactants that come from a natural origin and do not belong to the ethoxylated compounds family.

When we use sulfates in our foaming formulas, they are always associated with gentle surfactants such as betaines, glucosides, etc.
 

ANIMAL TESTING

Since the L’OCCITANE en Provence brand was founded in 1976, L’OCCITANE has been against the use of animals to test beauty products. The L’OCCITANE Group does not test its products, active ingredients or raw materials on animals at any point in the product development or manufacturing process, and it requires all its suppliers to adhere to a strict charter and prove that they fully respect the same rigorous standards.

What’s more, the L’OCCITANE Group’s number one priority is the health and safety of its consumers. All its product formulations have therefore been tested extensively over time through alternative methods, including product safety tests and user/clinical trials.

In China, where the Group’s brands are also sold, imported beauty products must be submitted for compulsory testing on a limited animal panel in government laboratories before they can be approved for sale in the country. Specifically, the Chinese authorities require a regulatory dossier including results from one-off tests (which vary based on product category) in order to issue a Hygiene Permit for each new imported cosmetic product. The authorities also stipulate that cosmetics may be subject to random, post-market sampling tests for auditing purposes.

These regulatory requirements apply to all cosmetic products not manufactured locally.

The L’OCCITANE Group is deeply committed to ending animal testing for beauty products globally, and it is active in a number of collaborative industry-wide efforts to achieve this goal.

The cosmetics industry, via Cosmetics Europe, which the L’OCCITANE Group actively supports as a corporate member, is engaging with the relevant Chinese authorities to introduce alternative testing techniques, such as those used in Europe, where animal testing – including tests on finished products, active ingredients or raw materials – has been banned in full since 2013.

This constructive dialogue has already led to a series of advances in Chinese regulations, including the decision in June 2014 to end animal testing on so-called ‘ordinary cosmetics’ (shampoo, perfume etc.) that are manufactured and packaged locally. Another major milestone was achieved in November 2016 when the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved the use of a non-animal test for the safety assessment of certain cosmetic ingredients. The National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) are currently evaluating other alternatives to animal testing.

The L’OCCITANE Group provides funding to support alternative methods of testing. For example, it partners with the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), a non-profit research and testing laboratory dedicated to advancing in vitro (non-animal) testing methods worldwide. The IIVS has an active programme in China, which is dedicated to promoting the use and regulatory acceptance of non-animal testing methods for assessing the safety of cosmetics. Progress was noted in 2018 with IIVS’s appointment to China’s Alternatives Working Group for Cosmetics and, in April 2019, with the acceptance of certain non-animal (alternative) testing methods for the regulation of cosmetics.

More detailed information can be found on the IIVS website.

We trust that this consultative approach with the Chinese regulators and industry bodies will help bring an end to animal testing once and for all.

SUSTAINABLE SOURCING OF PALM OIL DERIVATIVES

Palm oil is extracted from the fruit of the oil palm. It is used in some cosmetics and personal care products due to its cleansing and foaming properties. The L’OCCITANE Group does not buy crude palm oil. Only certain processed products (emollients, emulsifiers and surfactants) purchased from its suppliers may be derived from palm oil or palm kernel oil*.

The L’OCCITANE Group understands that complex global supply chains may pose social and environmental challenges, especially when products are sourced from family-run farms, rural areas or parts of the world where resources are scarce. Yet, with sustainable production methods and fair distribution of added value, palm oil production can provide jobs for small producers and benefit local economies. To help improve supply chains, the L’OCCITANE Group is involved in a number of collective initiatives and field projects, as well as research into alternative raw materials.

Collective action
With the huge number of stakeholders involved in the supply chain of palm derivatives, increasing transparency is a challenge that faces us all. Only by working together with other industry players can we effect genuine change.
That’s why, in 2011, the L’OCCITANE Group joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a not-for-profit organisation that promotes and certifies palm oil production that is respectful of the environment and the rights of workers in the supply chain. Today, almost all the palm oil derivatives used by the L’OCCITANE Group are certified as sustainable and environmentally friendly by the RSPO. The Group’s aim is for 100% of the palm oil it uses to be certified as sustainable by the RSPO by 2026.
The L’OCCITANE Group has also been a member of Action for Sustainable Derivatives (ASD) since its creation in 2019. In 2023, the Group went one step further by rolling out the ASD’s Sustainable Palm Index, which assesses the transparency and sustainability of suppliers’ practices.

Decent living and working conditions and respect for human rights
The L’OCCITANE Group is also working with the various stakeholders in its supply chain, starting with its suppliers, to ensure that their working practices respect human rights and the environment.
To this end, every supplier must sign up to a Code of Business Conduct, which commits them to respecting the Group’s key principles, including defending human rights, ensuring decent living and working standards, protecting the environment and tackling corruption.
Through its #NotJustSuppliers programme, the L’OCCITANE Group carries out a yearly assessment of suppliers’ compliance with the Code of Business Conduct. If weaknesses are identified, the Group will ask the supplier to take immediate action and will carry out a follow-up assessment within the year to ensure progress is being made.
Isolated issues are dealt with under the Group’s Duty of Care.

Field projects
The L’OCCITANE Group is committed to supporting field projects in conservation, restoring biodiversity and regenerative agriculture over a surface area at least equivalent to its total ‘palm footprint’. Current initiatives include:

• Livelihoods Project Pematang Village Community Forest Protection: a project under the aegis of the Livelihoods Fund for Family Farming that works with local communities to conserve across an area covering more than 4,000 hectares in northern Sumatra while also maintaining a firm focus on human rights.
• In Indonesia, the Group is working with one of its suppliers and a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to secure RSPO certification for 200 hectares of smallholdings, in partnership with the local authorities, and set up a pilot regenerative agriculture programme in the district of Seruyan, West Kalimantan.

Finding alternatives to palm derivatives
The L’OCCITANE Group is committing R&D investment into finding more sustainable substitutes for palm derivatives, such as glycerine obtained from rapeseed. In addition, the Group is working to increase the proportion of more easily traceable ingredients used, as in the case of fats derived from sunflowers or grape seed.

Find out more:

• Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO): https://rspo.org/
• Action for Sustainable Derivatives (ASD): https://sustainablederivatives.org/

*The Group uses both palm kernel oil derivatives (extracted from the seed of the oil palm fruit) and palm oil derivatives (extracted from the flesh of the oil palm fruit). For ease of understanding, we use the term ‘palm oil’ in both cases.

SOLID MICROPLASTICS

L'OCCITANE en Provence is committed to the safety and efficacy of its products and manufactures products that are fully compliant with the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest regulations in the world. We try to anticipate regulatory changes and adapt our products accordingly to guarantee their safety. We are always looking for more natural and ecological alternatives and to use them whenever possible.

Solid plastic microbeads are prohibited in Europe. We stopped using solid plastic microbeads in our formulas in 2018.
As a matter of principle, we give priority to natural ingredients and use natural materials such as crushed almond shells or apricot kernel powder as alternatives, when necessary.

L’OCCITANE EN PROVENCE CLEAN CHARTER 

L'OCCITANE en Provence has always been, and always will be, firmly committed to consumer safety while limiting its environmental impact at every stage of the product lifecycle. We are also widely known for giving our customers an exceptional sensory experience through textures, fragrances and application ('gestuelle d'application') while never compromising on product efficacy.

Our products are fully compliant with all regulations worldwide, including the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest in force today. Furthermore, our firm belief in nature and people has led us to develop our own rigorous Formulation Charter. Going beyond regulatory compliance, we share our formulations with the world in a spirit of complete transparency. This means that we clearly disclose the ingredients we prefer to use, those that we use in moderation and are constantly seeking to replace with more natural and environmentally friendly alternatives, and those we choose not to use at all even though they are authorised.

Through our dynamic continuous improvement programmes, we have set ourselves a new global challenge by laying down further criteria in our L'OCCITANE en Provence Clean Charter! These come in addition to the commitments in our Formulation Charter, thus highlighting our ever more resolute commitment to creating more natural formulas (leave-on products) and ingredients that minimise our environmental impact (rinse-off products) without compromising on our products' efficacy, safety or sensory effect.

The products that comply with this higher level of commitment are easily identifiable by two dedicated logos, which appear on the packaging and on our website:

• LOCCITANE en Provence's CLEAN CHARTER: 95% natural-origin ingredients
• L'OCCITANE en Provence's CLEAN CHARTER: 95% readily biodegradable ingredients

In addition to the limit of ingredients we use in moderation, for leave-on products, the criterion used in our charter is based on the percentage of natural-origin ingredients, whereas for rinse-off products, it is based on the percentage of readily biodegradable ingredients.

L'OCCITANE en Provence do not use animal ingredients or animal-derived sub-products. The only animal-derived ingredients our consumers might find in our products are therefore bee and cochineals derivatives (such as honey, beeswax, royal jelly and ambrettolide).

To meet the expectations of customers who want to avoid formulas containing animal-derived ingredients, we have developed VEGAN FORMULA logos, which are visible in our online stores.
These logos make it quick and easy to identify formulas that do not contain animal-derived ingredients, including bee and cochineal products.

For more information on our group's position on animal welfare, see Our Viewpoints: Animal testing.

HUMAN RIGHTS 

As a responsible company, we are aware of the challenges of complex global supply chains, particularly when they involve agriculture.

This is why we take actions to ensure that all our sourcing is ethical and responsible. We choose our suppliers beyond a simple buyer relationship and ensure that they are committed to human rights and environmental practices.

Each of them must sign our Code of Business Conduct, which commits them to respecting the principles essential to our Group – protecting human rights, decent working and living conditions, and environmental protection.

With our programme #NotJustSuppliers, we assess every year the compliance of our suppliers to our Code of Business Conduct. If the assessment reveals any weaknesses, we ask the supplier to take immediate action, and we conduct a second assessment within the year to ensure improvements are being made.

THE USE OF OUR PRODUCTS DURING PREGNANCY AND NURSING 

L'OCCITANE en Provence is committed to the safety and efficacy of its products and manufactures products that are fully compliant with the EU Cosmetics Regulation, one of the strictest regulations in the world.

As a precaution, we do not advise women who are pregnant or nursing to use our products.
We currently have a product without any essential oil or perfume: Shea Butter Organic Certified 150ml.

Nevertheless, for any questions regarding the use of cosmetics products during your pregnancy or when nursing, we advise you to contact your doctor.