L'Oréal USA Converts Piscataway Manufacturing Facility to Solar Power
Jun 16, 2011 6:30 PM ET
(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) New York, NY - June 16, 2011 - L'Oréal USA announced today that its Piscataway, New Jersey manufacturing facility is partnering with GeoPeak Energy in a Purchase Power Agreement (PPA) to install a 1.4 Megawatt Photovoltaic Solar System at that facility. Although this is the first solar powered, green energy application for L’Oréal in the US, the company uses solar technology in its manufacturing and distribution plants in India, Spain, Mexico and China. Today, twenty percent of the company’s electricity used globally is from renewable sources.
Once operational, the roof-mounted photovoltaic solar energy system is projected to provide one fourth of the plant’s electrical power requirements. The new system is expected to reduce the plant’s CO2 by 570 metric tons per year. In addition, the plant has contracted with the GeoPeak to provide additional carbon credits, thereby allowing the facility to reduce its carbon footprint by a total of 1,140 metric tons of CO2 per year. “This new solar energy system will help us meet an important sustainability goal which is to reduce our greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions by 50% by 2015,” said Steve Kottakis, Vice President and L’Oréal Plant Manager. “In addition to reducing GHGs, the plant has other key initiatives in development to help reduce water consumption and waste.” “We are delighted to partner with L’Oréal to deliver distributed renewable energy solutions. With innovative engineering and highly efficient photovoltaic’s we are able to maximize their onsite renewable energy based electricity production and use, resulting in higher Carbon Dioxide reduction,” said AJ Javan, Chief Strategy Officer, GeoPeak Energy. The 243,000 square foot facility, which produces more than 137 million units of Lancôme, Kiehl’s Since 1851, Ralph Lauren Fragrances, La Roche Posay and Dermablend products annually, has already implemented other energy efficiency and conservation programs. In 2010 the plant reduced its water consumption by 25% and its transportable waste by 13%. The plant also recycles or repurposes energy from 100% of its waste products and was the first L’Oréal USA manufacturing facility to have its Environmental Management System certified ISO14001. The new clean energy system will be supplied, operated and maintained by GeoPeak Energy. The technology is expected to be operational by the end of 2011. In 2009 L’Oréal announced three significant long-term environmental 2005-2015 targets for its factories and warehouses which will be measured on a like-for-like basis. They include:-
50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
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50% reduction in water use per unit of finished product
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50% reduction in waste generated per unit of finished product
