The L'Occitane Group: Highlighting Sustainable Supply Chains

The L’Occitane Group has highlighted how its global supply chain is central to its sustainability efforts, putting responsible sourcing at the core of product development and procurement.

As a certified B Corporation, the group pushes transparency and environmental stewardship by connecting customers with the ecosystems and suppliers that form the backbone of its natural beauty brands.

Through a four-part video campaign, the company explores the methods it uses across its supply chains to support biodiversity, from how it sources raw materials to the packaging it selects.

Each film focuses on a key material or supply chain component: water, immortelle, shea and packaging.

Together, they demonstrate how partnerships, data and traditional knowledge combine to reduce environmental impact and improve product integrity.

Water management in agricultural supply chains

Water use is one of the most intensive parts of the group’s supply chain, particularly in agricultural production.

According to internal data from a 2022 study, 58% of the company’s total water consumption occurs in upstream supply chain operations, notably in farming and harvesting.

To address this, the group collaborates with non-governmental organisations and local producers to define responsible water use in farming.

These partnerships guide both L’Occitane en Provence and Melvita in creating sustainable sourcing frameworks.

The Group also consults with hydrogeologists and naturalists to ensure it is not damaging the Réotier spring in France, which supplies water for some of its products.

Operational improvements have already followed. Since the 2022 review, production facilities have reduced water use by 25% and the Lagorce site is being developed into the group’s first fully circular water plant, meaning water is reused within the site rather than discharged or wasted.

Adrien Geiger, CEO of Maison L’Occitane en Provence, says: “We depend on nature and must take responsibility as its stewards, both individually and collectively. 

"Together, we are leading the transition from conventional practices to sustainable farming models that restore and give back to nature. It’s not just about preserving our resources but also about securing the future viability of our entire ecosystem.”

Local cultivation and ethical raw material sourcing

The group relies on cultivation methods that avoid industrial farming wherever possible.

Its use of immortelle – a plant known for anti-ageing properties – illustrates how it ties sustainability to supply chain design.

The immortelle used in L’Occitane en Provence products is grown through organic methods, without pesticides and using only wild seeds. All fields are weeded manually.

To extract active compounds from the plant, the group uses eco-extraction technology, which avoids synthetic solvents.

This keeps the process aligned with its environmental goals while ensuring quality control.

Supporting this model is a network of local farmers whose work maintains traditional agricultural knowledge while promoting economic resilience in their communities.

In the case of shea butter, the group has sourced directly from suppliers in Burkina Faso and Ghana since 2009. This relationship supports fair trade certification and provides income for local producers, particularly women-led cooperatives.

Scientific data and local expertise are used together to ensure that sourcing is sustainable and respectful of biodiversity in each region.

The company also runs life cycle assessments across the supply chain to understand and reduce the environmental impact of both product ingredients and their packaging.

These audits inform the development of new materials and ensure the long-term viability of raw material sourcing.

Packaging innovation and local partnerships

Packaging is another area where the group is embedding sustainability across its supply chain.

The company promotes reuse and recycling, with one brand, Dr. Vranjes Firenze, using local artisans to produce refillable diffusers and recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) refills.

The use of local production in packaging not only reduces emissions from transport but supports small-scale manufacturers and ensures product traceability.

These efforts support a procurement strategy that values local knowledge, closed-loop processes and product longevity.

Each element of the supply chain, from seed to shelf, is considered with environmental impact in mind.

As the group explains: "By integrating sustainability into every stage, we demonstrate that responsible stewardship of nature by corporations is achievable."

The campaign makes clear that the group’s approach goes beyond regulatory compliance, aiming instead for proactive regeneration of natural resources and ethical sourcing at every level.

The commitment to working with communities, using data-led practices and choosing sustainable design models places procurement at the centre of the company’s broader environmental mission.