Developing Sustainable Products

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.