Inside Estée Lauder's Waste-Slashing Belgium Base

The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), home to names like Clinique, MAC and Bobbi Brown, is investing in more sustainable operations at its Oevel campus in Belgium.

It’s one of the company’s largest global production and fulfilment hubs, and a key part of its strategy to reduce the environmental impact of its supply chain.

The upgrades target water use, energy consumption and waste management, helping the beauty giant push forward on sustainability goals.

At the core of these improvements is a renewed focus on water. The Oevel campus has implemented new treatment and recycling technologies, allowing the company to use water more efficiently and cut down on fresh water requirements.

ELC says water recycling rates at the site have jumped from 59% to 85%. That translates to an increase in reused water from 23 million to 29 million litres a year — enough to fill 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Most of that reused water supports cleaning activities across the campus.

Incoming water needs have also dropped. The site now requires 46% less fresh water than before and ELC says this figure could reach 93% with wider adoption of rainwater harvesting. There’s also been a cut in sludge waste, the by-product of water treatment, as the site now avoids producing 3,000 tonnes of sludge each year - the equivalent of 150 truckloads.

For a site that produces more than 100 million skincare and makeup units annually, the environmental savings stack up quickly. These figures highlight how operational tweaks can deliver large-scale results, especially in industries with high resource use.

Energy and waste goals step up a gear

Energy use and waste management are also key areas of focus at Oevel. Since 2007, the site has run entirely on renewable electricity, and the company is now boosting its renewable energy supply with new solar arrays. Two new installations, rated at 1.165kWp and 1.000kWp, are expected to generate enough power to support 195 homes annually.

Transport on-site is shifting too. A bike lease plan encourages employees to swap cars for cycling, with 350 staff pedalling a combined distance equal to 14 trips around the world each year.

Waste reduction efforts are showing results. At the manufacturing site, 86% of waste is recycled. That rises to 98% at the fulfilment centre. More than 120 tonnes of waste are reused every month. ELC says it's committed to reaching zero waste to landfill and Oevel is helping to bring that ambition within reach.

The company’s sustainability lead, Nancy Mahon, describes the Belgian operation as a flagship for greener practices: “Oevel exemplifies how we’re committed to advancing sustainability for the long term. 

“Its leadership in biotech and ingredient sustainability, paired with innovative practices in a historic setting, reflects our dedication to reducing our environmental footprint and setting new benchmarks for sustainable operations.”

Biotech hub adds scale to sustainability efforts

Alongside the Oevel site, ELC has established a biotechnology hub in Olen, just nearby. The new BioTech centre is designed to scale up the in-house production of bio-based ingredients — key materials that are derived from biological sources rather than synthetic ones.

The goal is to make product development both more efficient and more sustainable. According to Roberto Canevari, ELC’s Chief Value Chain Officer, the BioTech hub supports the company’s broader operational goals: “We’re focused on advancing sustainability across our end-to-end value chain — as well as driving increased quality, performance and agility to best advance our business and serve our consumers.”

Improving ingredient sourcing through biotech allows the company to reduce reliance on third-party suppliers, shorten production timelines and maintain tighter control over environmental standards.

It also enables closer integration between research, production and fulfilment — which makes a difference when operating at the scale of ELC.

For a business that’s been in Belgium nearly 60 years, the upgrades at Oevel and Olen show how a global company can combine local action with global impact. By reworking its supply chain from the ground up, ELC is pushing for long-term improvements, rather than quick wins.

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