Soon, everything we use in our daily lives will come from recycled carbon waste, including the perfume we wear. Today Coty, Inc. (COTY) announced that a majority of its fragrance portfolio will be made from sustainable ethanol made from captured-carbon emissions, by 2023. The largest fragrance-selling company in the world is taking a major step to reduce carbon emissions across its value chain while offering consumers more choices in sustainable fragrances.
Coty's scientists have been working alongside scientists from LanzaTech Inc., to craft high-purity sustainable ethanol that is suitable for use in fragrances. This announcement is significant as it marks the next phase where Coty will be to incorporate carbon-captured ethanol into its fragrances. This past summer LanzaTech launched cleaning products with Mibelle and soon those cleaning products will be in bottles made from recycled waste.
LanzaTech, a leader in the production of next-generation green and sustainable ingredients, captures industrial emissions (such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide produced in steel manufacturing) and processes the waste gases into a new, more sustainable source of ethanol. Coty’s scientists have worked alongside LanzaTech and production partners over the past two years to develop a high-purity sustainable ethanol that is suitable for use in fragrances. The proposed partnership means that Coty 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 by 2023.
“Sustainability is the ultimate driver of innovation and Coty is focused on creating outstanding products that are truly clean and green,“ said Sue Y. Nabi, Chief Executive Officer of Coty. “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 the 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.
“Addressing our climate challenge requires collaboration across multiple sectors,” said Jennifer Holmgren, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaTech. “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.
