We are facing a crisis stemming from the finiteness of resources, a result of economic activities exceeding the limits of the planet’s receptiveness and resilience. We also face issues including climate change, biodiversity, other environmental issues, and population explosion. Manufacturers are expected to follow green chemistry principles towards the development of a circular economy, which is premised on both making effective use of resources to reduce their environmental footprint throughout the product lifecycle and recycling resources.
Shiseido positions Sustainability INNOVATION as an important research area and one of the three pillars of its Research & Development strategy for 2030. To achieve this, we have adopted Premium/Sustainability as a research approach under DYNAMIC HARMONY, our unique Research & Development philosophy, based on our compliance with high safety and quality standards that we have had in place for more than a century. We will step up to the challenge of creating sustainable innovations, which balance satisfaction stemming from the results, high-quality design, and feel of our products with respect for and coexistence between people, society, and the global environment.
Shiseido develops and provides safe and high-quality products and services based on more than a century’s experience in dermatology and material science. At Shiseido, we want to help tackle issues concerning people’s health and the environment. Therefore, we disclosed our Corporate Product Development Policy, in which we have summarized our policies on product development (formulas and packaging) and use of ingredients and raw materials that could be concerning for consumers. We also monitor trends in product-related regulations, such as PPWR*1 and ESPR*2 in EU, in developing our products.
Cosmetics formulations include natural raw materials. Therefore, sustainable and responsible procurement and the use of raw materials is of the utmost importance from an environmental perspective. Based on the idea of the product lifecycle, we focus on developing formulas and ingredients, packaging, and circular recycling models that are aimed at making effective use of limited resources, mitigating climate change, and minimizing our impact on ecosystems.
Click here for Product Development Policy (About Ingredients/Formulas)
In line with green chemistry principles, we carefully evaluate our raw materials, ingredients and formulas to ensure they are safe for the human, have minimal environmental impact, and use natural and upcycled materials sourced through ethical
procurement. We comply with all relevant regulations in each country where we operate. In addition, we have our own in-house standards for ingredients–and only select ingredients that meet our strict safety, environmental, and ethical
standards.
Our Global Innovation Center in Yokohama, Japan, which manages all regional centers, is working to select raw materials and develop formulations that are not only safe and functional but also respect the environment.
At Shiseido, the proportion of CO₂ emissions from raw material procurement are high among Scope 3 CO₂ emissions. This has made it imperative to reduce CO₂ emissions through selection of raw materials. Cosmetics formulations include natural raw materials. We work with our suppliers to reduce CO₂ emissions by shifting to bio-based raw materials in line with the green chemistry principles.
In 2022, Shiseido joined the MATSURI project, the world’s first corporate joint project to explore how algae can be used to drive a sustainable future, which is led by the CHITOSE Group. Powered by the sun, algae absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis, while also generating useful proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. More extensive use of algae is expected to contribute to lower CO₂ emissions in future, where algae products can replace fossil-derived raw materials. In 2023, Shiseido invested 1.0 billion yen in the CHITOSE Group and signed a strategic collaboration agreement focused on R&D with the Group. The purposes of this initiative include the development and mass production of cosmetics and container raw materials using algae, as well as the development of raw materials which can be used in the food industry. To maximize the potential of algae, we will work together with MATSURI Project partner companies in ending the use of fossil resources for cosmetics.
Click here for the news release regarding MATSURI.
We are accelerating innovation in the field of suncare to protect against UV and pursue coexistence between people, their ecosystems, and the environment. The effect caused by the climate change, UV exposure for people around the world is expected to increase*1. Exposure to UV rays over extended periods of time causes spots and wrinkles on the skin– symptoms of photoaging. Recognizing the importance of innovations for protecting beautiful skin from UV, we will enhance our research efforts to provide products and services with added benefits.
Because suncare products are used in the sea, we believe that we need to address their environmental impact appropriately as a company.
We are assessing the impact that UV filters used in suncare products have on the ocean. This includes working with universities and research initiatives to assess the impact of each UV filter used in our products on coral*2, and performing simulations*3 of how suncare products spread into the ocean when used by people at the seashore. We are utilizing the results of these assessments for ingredient selection and the development of coral-respecting formulas, while applying them to suncare product development for both SHISEIDO and ANESSA.
In 2023, in order to evaluate the impact of cosmetic ingredients on marine ecosystems, we began a partnership agreement with Innoqua Inc., a start-up company with proprietary technology that reproduces ecosystems in an aquarium. The aquarium can reproduce possible future environmental change scenarios, including ‘rising seawater temperatures’, which are predicted to have a tremendous impact on marine life. This allows us to evaluate the impact of various cosmetic ingredients, such as those used in sunscreen, on the entire marine environment, including coral and other organisms.
We strive to provide safe and effective products to consumers while complying with cosmetics regulations and respecting the principles of animal protection. For more than 40 years after we established a safety research department in 1963, we continued to study alternative methods which do not involve animal testing. In 2013, we abolished animal testing entirely* and shifted to a safety assurance system that does not use animals. We have established a safety assurance system with our unique strict standards. Working together with external stakeholders, we are striving to establish alternative methods, which were developed on our own or jointly with other companies, as official methods.
In February 2023, we announced our involvement in the newly launched International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS). A global project involving manufacturers, suppliers, industry associations, and animal protection organizations, ICCS’s goal is to promote and implement animal-free safety assurance in the development of cosmetics and personal care products.
Shiseido will promote and implement the safety assurance of cosmetics without animal testing through the sharing of technologies and knowledge on alternative methods of animal testing, discussions and collaboration with related companies and organizations, and approaching the regulations of each country and region.
Click here for our safety assurance initiatives which do not use animals.
Shiseido strives to procure environmentally friendly, sustainable raw materials. Palm oil is used in cosmetics and household goods for a range of purposes, including as a humectant and as an oil. However, palm oil production can have a significant impact on the environment. We have disclosed our medium- to long-term targets for the procurement of sustainable palm oil, as well as our goal to switch from palm oil to more sustainable raw materials.
When selecting a product, consumers increasingly place importance on a company’s approach to social responsibility, environmental protection, and ethical raw material sourcing. At Shiseido, in addition to disclosing our corporate policy on ingredient and raw material sourcing, we work to develop brands with a strong environmental, social and ethical profile.
Drunk Elephant originating in the US, for example, is a leading brand in the clean beauty market sold in 40 countries and regions, known for its sustainable and responsible raw material procurement as well as its promotion of sustainable action. Taking this stance, the brand has gained significant support from Millennial and Generation Z consumers.
In 2022, we launched the Ulé skincare brand in France. Based on plant-derived ingredients, Ulé promotes beauty both inside and outside the body. The brand emphasizes responsible procurement, product efficacy and safety, lower environmental impact, and transparency. To ensure clearer raw material traceability and reduce environmental impact from transportation, the brand buys its three botanical treasures (centella, coleus and tulsi) and produces all its products locally in France. The names and origins of the raw materials can be found on the brand website.
Climate change and marine plastic waste are pressing environmental issues that need to be addressed on a global scale. It is expected that the Global Plastics Treaty (a resolution of the United Nations Environment Assembly approved by over 175 countries in Nairobi in 2022 which calls for urgent action to end plastic pollution globally by 2040) will be signed by the end of 2024. Shiseido aims to realize a circular economy where all materials are responsibly managed during production through efforts such as recycling to minimize the impact on our ecosystem. It is expected that the interest of consumers and other stakeholders in climate change and other environmental issues will continue to rise. Adapting to changes in societal awareness through product development and other means, is extremely important for the sustainability of our business.
Based on the Shiseido 5Rs packaging development policy*1, Shiseido is working to reduce its environmental footprint and contribute to realize a circular economy.
To achieve our goal of 100% sustainable packaging*2 by 2025, we are adopting recyclable and reusable designs, using bio-based and post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, reducing packaging weight and encouraging refills to promote reused packaging. We have also started initiatives designed to reduce the amount of virgin petroleum-based plastic used by adopting non-plastic alternative materials, and we are introducing mono-material packaging to improve recyclability.*3 In addition, we aim to build a Shiseido circular business model that recycles used packaging as new resources in collaboration with consumers and external partners.
We understand that the Earth's resources are limited. In line with Shiseido’s 5Rs packaging development policy, we are reducing the amount of plastic we use and reducing our impact on the environment by such as optimizing the size of packaging to suit the product, reducing packaging weight and offering refillable packaging. Compared to 2019, the average weight of a plastic packaging was reduced by 18% in 2023.
Refillable packaging significantly reduces resource use. By encouraging the reuse of main packaging, it is possible to reduce the total amount of plastic used for packaging. Our Life Cycle Assessment confirms that refillable packaging lowers resource use and waste and significantly reduces CO₂ emissions compared to the continuous disposal of regular (primary) packaging. To significantly contribute to the reduction of the environmental impact, we aim to promote the development of these products widely, not only in Japan but also on a global scale.
Since we launched our first refillable product in 1926, we have provided refillable packaging in a wide range of product categories, including skincare and makeup. In 2023, we offered refillable packaging for about 740 stock keeping units (SKUs) within 31 brands globally in an effort to reduce the amount of plastic and ultimately, to reduce the environmental footprint.
This included increasing the amount of refillable packaging in our prestige skincare brand Clé de Peau Beauté and launching refillable packaging for the cream LA CRÈME, which uses 95%*1 less plastic than its regular (primary) packaging. In 2023, the brand launched new refillable packaging for five new products, including SÉRUM RAFFERMISSANT SUPRÊME n. In 2023, sales of refillable packaging from Clé de Peau Beauté increased approximately 23% year on year.
Before launching a refill option for the IPSA loose powder that became available in 2023, we redesigned the main container to improve durability and to make it more suitable for repeated use.
We are also incorporating innovative technologies to reduce environmental impact. In 2023, the brand SHISEIDO, which operates in 88 countries and regions around the globe, became the first company to sell cosmetics using container made with LiquiForm® technology*2. It is a one-step technology for manufacturing bottles and filling them with liquid content. Refillable cosmetics container made using LiquiForm® can reduce plastic usage per container.*3 Moreover, this technology, inclusive of the reduction of energy consumption through the one-step technology, can reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 70%*4 throughout the supply chain—from raw materials procurement and production to use and disposal—compared to our standard conventional refillable container of the same volume. We will raise awareness of refillable products by launching them not only in Japan but also in other Asian countries and regions, including China. We will also strengthen our activities to achieve toward a circular economy that seek the cooperation of consumers.
In 2024, Ulé, a skincare brand that promotes beauty both inside and outside the body, launched a refillable option made from 100% recyclable materials for cleansing gel Dream of Pure. The refill helps reduce plastic and aluminum usage by 23% and 100% respectively, as opposed to purchasing new packaging.
In 2023, the luxury brand Serge Lutens launched a fragrance that strikes a delicate balance between sustainability and luxury. The refill packaging is made from 100% recyclable aluminum in consideration of environmental impact.
To realize a circular economy, it is important to select materials and design products with the reuse of resources in mind.
To reduce our consumption of single-use plastic, we are developing packaging made from a material that can be more easily sorted and reused/recycled after use without compromising the quality of the packaging’s design.
In 2023, a number of our brands launched products with packaging that is easier to recycle, including SHISEIDO and Clé de Peau Beauté. In addition, the tube packaging for SIDEKICK — a cosmetics brand launched for young male consumers in 2022 — is made of easily recyclable aluminum.
To mitigate climate change and marine plastic pollution, we are focusing on the research of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, plastic alternatives, and bio-based materials with low environmental impact — and promoting their use. For example, packaging of some Clé de Peau Beauté and ELIXIR products is made from recycled plastic.
Over 72% of the PET in the bottles of ELIXIR facial lotion and emulsion is recycled. In 2023, as part of our global sustainability initiatives, a limited edition design of facial lotion and emulsion featuring Doraemon has been released to demonstrate our commitment to enhancing not only the beauty of individual's skin but also ensuring a radiant future for our world. Again, over 72% of the PET used in these bottles is recycled. The facial lotion and emulsion refills help reduce plastic usage by over 85%*1 and CO₂ emissions by 85%.*2
We also use some plant-derived bio-based plastic in the outer packaging of our ANESSA suncare brand. BAUM, which celebrates and honors our connection with nature, offers environmentally friendly products. Packaging, for example, use sustainable raw materials such as upcycled wood left over from furniture industry, plant-derived or recycled plastic, and recycled glass. Additionally, many containers are refillable.
Products' secondary packaging that is made from plastic is being replaced with paper alternative. In addition, Point of Sale Materials (POSM) used at retail stores, such as drug stores, and counters that are made from plastic will also be replaced with paper alternatives in due course to further reduce the amount of plastic we use. In 2022, we switched approximately 70%*3 of our plastic POSM in Japan to paper.
At Shiseido, we published the POSM Eco Design Guideline in 2023 for the purpose of reducing the environmental impact related to the lifecycle of promotional materials, including in-store display tools and shopping bags. Based on the guideline, we promote the development of POSM materials in line with the Shiseido's 5Rs.* We will work with our stakeholders to reduce our environmental impact in the manufacturing of not only our products but also promotional materials.
To play a part in solving the global plastics recycling challenge, Shiseido invested in R Plus Japan in 2022 and engaged in recycling used plastics. By bringing together companies across the plastic packaging industry — from monomer and polymer manufacturers to packaging producers, trading, food and beverage companies — R Plus Japan aims to commercialize an efficient, low-environmental impact recycling technology by 2030.
Click here for Press Release: R Plus Japan
In March 2020, Shiseido became the first WIPO GREEN* partner company from the cosmetics industry. In 2022, we granted Toyo University a license to use our low-energy manufacturing technology, which is listed in the WIPO GREEN database. In 2022, the university developed a prototype of an environmentally friendly product that uses the extract from boysenberries, a local specialty of Tatebayashi City, Gunma Prefecture. The product began to be sold via crowdfunding in 2023.
Shiseido started a new scheme to collect used plastic cosmetics packaging in stores, utilizing a wide range of business partners and consumer touchpoints. As well as increasing consumer awareness about the value of used containers as a recyclable resource, we hope the scheme will help drive wider behavioral change in society and encourage competitors and companies in other industries to implement circular models.
To support and promote recycling, we collect used cosmetics packaging in-store and recycle it as new materials. We work with multiple parties to ensure containers are recycled fully and correctly, including customers, waste collection companies, and other companies.
In 2023, in Japan, we collected around 49,000*1 used containers through 88 AEON stores in collaboration with Aeon Retail Co., Ltd., TerraCycle Japan*2, and other companies.
When developing cosmetic containers, protecting the contents, ensuring ease of use, and giving the premium look and feel are considered and designed. As a result, they have to be made from a wide variety of plastics, which can make it challenging to recycle them back into reusable plastic resources. To solve this issue, Shiseido launched an initiative in 2022 in collaboration with SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD. and Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. The initiative involves creating a circular economy in which plastic cosmetics containers are collected and recycled without separating the materials. We are planning to manufacture recycled plastics in the future by collecting used cosmetic packaging, which we then turn into new cosmetic packaging. The three companies will be advancing this cross-sectoral alliance, while also calling on related industries and companies to join the effort to create a circular economy.
Click here for Press Release: Collaborating in Building a Circular Economy for Plastic Cosmetics Containers
In April 2023, we launched the “BeauRing®” project — a circular model project to collect and recycle plastic containers into new ones for reuse. We began collecting used containers from several Shiseido product retailers in Yokohama and the Shiseido Global Innovation Center in Yokohama. The POLA brand of POLA ORBIS HOLDINGS INC. joined in the project. As well as driving in-house initiatives, we are encouraging other companies to join the project to expand the circle of resource circulation and, ultimately, create a sustainable society in which consumers use cosmetics with a more positive mindset.
Click here for Press Release: Circular Model Project “BeauRing®”
In 2023, Shiseido launched a joint recycling initiative in China with a packaging material supplier. We recycle used plastic bottles for the cosmetics of the AUPRES brand, which we market in China. The bottles were made into desks and chairs by applying the supplier's recycling technology. They were donated to Hope Elementary School in Sichuan province.
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