The largest fragrance-selling company in the world is taking a major step to reduce carbon emissions across its value chain, offering consumers more choices in sustainable fragrances. Coty’s scientists have been working alongside scientists from biotechnology firm LanzaTech Inc. to craft high-purity sustainable ethanol that is suitable for use in fragrances.
LanzaTech is a leader in the production of next-generation green and sustainable ingredients, capturing industrial emissions (such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide produced in steel manufacturing) and processing the waste gases into a new, more sustainable source of ethanol. Coty has been working with LanzaTech and production partners over the past two years and will incorporate this carbon-captured ethanol into its fragrance manufacturing process, with the goal of having the majority of its fragrance portfolio using ethanol sourced from carbon-capture emission by 2023.
Sue Y. Nabi, Chief Executive Officer of Coty, said, “Sustainability is the ultimate driver of innovation and Coty is focused on creating outstanding products that are truly clean and green. Ethanol is the number one ingredient purchased for the fragrance category and over time this partnership with LanzaTech will significantly reduce the environmental impact of our products. It’s not only the right thing to do, but it makes commercial sense too—with today’s consumer rightly demanding that their favourite brands share their commitment to sustainability.”
Ethanol is a core ingredient in fragrance products, enabling the efficient dispersion of the scent. Coty fragrances contain ethanol sourced from a range of natural raw materials—including sugar cane and sugar beet, which use land, water, and fertilizers. This new sustainable ethanol from carbon-capture utilizes near-zero water consumption and reduces the requirement for agricultural land which, in turn, supports biodiversity. Working with the independent sustainability consultancy Quantis, Coty has conducted a screening life cycle assessment which shows a significantly reduced overall environmental impact.
Jennifer Holmgren, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaTech, said, “Addressing our climate challenge requires collaboration across multiple sectors. We are proud to be developing this partnership with Coty to show that carbon recycling can enable sustainable production of fragrances. Single use carbon must be a thing of the past and this project exemplifies our vision of a CarbonSmart future where consumers are able to choose products made from recycled carbon.”
The proposed partnership with LanzaTech is an important step for Coty as it continues its journey to becoming a more circular business and creating a more sustainable and inclusive world. Coty’s ambitious “Beauty That Lasts” strategy, which is guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sets out a range of time-bound targets, including a 30% reduction in absolute CO2e emissions by 2030.
