Faq

In order for our efforts to remain pioneering and ambitious, L’Oréal aims to further catalyze new breakthrough technologies to enable its sustainability transformation.

To this effect and building on its long-standing culture of innovation L’Oréal partnered with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)’s Canopy innovation experts to scout, identify, pilot, and scale breakthrough technologies addressing critical solution gaps within the industry.
 

In today's sustainability landscape, co-creation with partners is paramount for fostering impactful change. The Sustainable Innovation Accelerator embodies this principle, leveraging CISL's renowned sustainability expertise and L'Oréal's leadership in beauty, providing a unique platform to accelerate technologies that address critical solution gaps in the industry and advance L'Oréal's sustainability goals.

 
Successful applicants will access one or more of the tailored elements from the program, ranging from personalized acceleration delivered by CISL experts to opportunities for co-developing pilot projects within L'Oréal ecosystem, and potentially active support for scaling.

Consistent with L’Oréal’s existing innovation culture this program is complementary to the other innovation efforts, incubators and funds internally operated by L’Oréal. It is dedicated to accelerating breakthrough sustainability solutions towards our 2030 solutions complementing existing innovation and open development programs across our business. 
 

The Sustainable Innovation Accelerator program ambitions to leverage CISL's sustainability expertise and L'Oréal's leading position in the beauty industry to further accelerate the impact and growth of applicants’ solutions. 

Successful applicants will benefit from one or more elements proposed by the program, including : access to a comprehensive 12-week group accelerator delivered by CISL experts, alongside up to 12 hours of 1:1 mentoring from global sustainability and industry leaders, peer-learning sessions and  potential opportunities for co-developing pilot projects within L'Oréal ecosystem, and active support for scaling.

Participation in the programme does not guarantee future collaboration 
 

The sustainable innovation accelerator is seeking for bold startups, SMEs and innovative solutions from established companies from around the world working on deployment-ready innovations, at TRL 7 or higher, that align with one or more of the following  seven key innovation areas :  low-carbon, climate-smart technologies; water resilience solutions; nature-based solutions;  alternative ingredients and materials; eliminating fossil plastic use and plastic waste;  circularity and resource management and sustainable and inclusive business models.

Within these areas, challenges of particular interest are shortlisted to address the critical solution gaps within the industry and accelerate the delivery of L’Oréal’s sustainability ambitions.

Challenges may evolve and do not constitute binding commitments. 

Any start-ups, SMEs, and established companies with innovative solutions meeting the scope of the call for applications are invited to apply.

Beyond applicants, any potential partner that share our ambition is welcome to join the sustainable innovation accelerator in the future.

L’Oréal has partnered with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)’s Canopy innovation experts to scout and identify solutions addressing the critical solution gap to accelerate the delivery of its sustainability ambitions. 

Our application evaluation follows a rigorous multi-step process. The CISL team will conduct the initial review and filtering, drawing upon the deep expertise of its vast network of more than 40,000 individuals committed to driving impact and sustainable business development. 
L'Oréal will maintain a strong involvement from start to finish, playing a key role in the ultimate selection of solutions.

Applications are being accepted until September 30, 2025, with cohort selection scheduled for November 2025. Applications should directly be submitted online through the dedicated form [insert link to the application form ] 
 

The Sustainable Innovation Accelerator team is committed to active communication with applicants throughout the application journey. The application window opens on June 23 and closes on September 30, 2025. The selection of the cohort is planned for November 2025, with notifications to successful applicants sent by that time.