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2 Assesment Sheet
3 Abstract LOral is the worlds largest cosmetic and beauty product manufacturer and supplier in the world with factories across the globe. In a position such as its, it is necessary to maintain a series of solid business ethics in order to maintain a positive reputation. LOral Group has done this by maintaining good relationships with suppliers, using renewable raw materials, making their manufacturing more efficient, limiting their environmental footprint, and undergoing extensive cutting-edge research into safer and more effective products. Therefore, LOral is an ethical company that continues to set the standards for others.
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Ethics and Methods of Production .............................................................................................................. 5 Ethics and the Acquisition and Utilization of Raw Materials ..................................................................... 6 Ethics of Sustainability and Environmental Footprint ................................................................................ 7 Ethics in Research and Development .......................................................................................................... 7 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................... 8 References .................................................................................................................................................... 8
Introduction
LOral has long been the worlds largest beauty and cosmetic supply company, as well as a prime example of positive business ethics. Headquartered in a Paris suburb, the company has developed a large number of cosmetic products that focus on hair colour, skin care, sun protection, make-up, perfume, and other assorted haircare products. Additionally, LOral has a long-standing research tradition and is active in the fields of pharmaceutics, dermatology, and tissue engineering. The company is also the leading nanotechnology patent-holder in the United States (Pitman, 2006). The company was founded on 31 July 1919 by a young French chemist named Eugne Schueller. A decade prior, in 1909, Schueller had developed a new hair dye formula which he called Aurale. A one-man-show, Schueller developed his own formulations and manufactured all of his own products, which he sold to hairdressers in the city of Paris. The company was originally registered as the Safe Hair Dye Company of France and was founded upon principles that LOral still stands for to this day. Namely, the guiding principles of research and innovation. The company began to grow in the early 20th century, hiring 3 chemists in 1920 and expanding by 1950 to employing teams that were one hundred-strong. By the 80s this number reached as high as 1000 per team and has climbed to nearly 2000 today. These teams are responsible for not only the development of hair colors (products for which the company was founded), but also enabled the company to branch into cleansing and other beauty products. Today, there are over 500 LOral brands and thousands of individual products that run the gamut from hair colour to makeup and fragrances. Additionally, their products are found in a large number of channels, from hair salons to perfumeries and supermarkets to pharmacies. Staying true to the original principles for which the company was founded, LOral has six R&D centers across the world located in France, the United States, Japan, China, and India, with plans for another US plant. It made its breakthrough into the pharmaceutical industry with the acquisition of Synthlablo, which through a series of mergers eventually became Sanofi-Aventis in 2004. Its manufacturing capabilities were also significantly expanded in 2012 with the opening of a $100 million dollar factory in Cikarang, Indonesia (2011). LOral has also been at the forefront of a number of self-esteem movements in the United States. This is exemplified by the advertising slogan Because Im worth it, which was later replaced with Because youre worth it and Because were worth it. These changes reflect not only the desire to create a deep consumer connection but to provide greater satisfaction, since the idealization of women has long been a criticism of the beauty product industry. This is one of the important ethical foundations of the company that has allowed it to succeed since its inception. It has over the years developed more efficient means of production, in addition to using renewable raw materials in its manufacturing processes. Most importantly, its focus on R&D has led to the development of safer and more environmentally friendly cosmetics. These factors add together to lead to the conclusion that in the 94 years since its inception LOral has always set a high standard for business ethics.
6 this system of ethics was specifically adapted by Toyota, it can be applied broadly and LOral is no exception. Time and time again, LOral has shown positive ethics in their manufacturing, particularly with respect to the value of their products. They have worked consistently through the years to give their products value to the customer by offering many different brands and choices for all cultures, races, and backgrounds following the companys Beauty for All campaign. This is directly coordinated with one of the companys ethical principles, namely its quest for excellence (l'Oral, 2013). According to the company, they are in constant pursuit of perfection, and in doing so they act ethically towards their consumers. Additionally, LOral has shown tremendous ethical fortitude with respect to its supply chains. Much like the principles of respect of time, the workplace, and people, LOrals own ethical standards ensure that its supply chains are efficient, that its workplace is motivating and stress-free, and that its suppliers and factories are transparent and free of corruption. To combat this, the company began its Buy & Care Program. This program sets a system of ethical standards and rules for dealing with suppliers and the potential issues stemming from involvement with foreign companies. This program ensures that human rights are respected in the supply chain that people are not being held against their will or that they are not being harassed or discriminated against (L'Oral, 2012). This is also helped with the development of an in-house production system, wherein the suppliers machinery and other equipment is integrated with the production facility. This ensures greater oversight into the conditions of their suppliers workplace and also allows for a more efficient delivery of product, eliminating the need for a long supply chain and minimizing costs to the consumer. Minimizing the time and cost of production as well as maximizing the safety and working conditions of its factories is directly related to the ethical principles laid out by both Toyota and by LOral (L'Oral, 2011a).
7 in organic agriculture. They have guaranteed a reasonable price for their output. Added the volume of trade generates premiums that benefit the communitys development projects. In 2010 a water pump was installed to irrigate the land of 25 families in El Jicaro and by 2011 60 families in Piedra Parada benefited from water purification system. Thus, LOral has engaged in ethical activities with regards to its raw materials and suppliers.
8 Pro Xylan is an ultra-potent molecule obtained after 7 years of research by L'Oral. Two steps of chemical synthesis are required to produce Pro-Xylane, and they aim to use less energy and produce less waste. Not only that, Pro-Xylane is also a biodegradable, non-persistent, bioaccumulative, and non-toxic chemical. In 2011, they improved the processes used to obtain Pro-xylane, a natural sugar derivative extracted from beech wood by reducing the quantity of solvents used. Thus LOral has engaged in positive research that affects the community positively but is doing so in an environmentally friendly manner.
Conclusion
In conclusion, L'Oral is an ethical company. L'Oral has ethical methods of production that bring the value of their products to their customer by having various brands and choices for them. L'Oral is also aiding in the maintenance of the environment by reducing the use of plastic and wood in their production. Furthermore, their research and development teams discover more ways to reduce waste and find new formula for better production. L'Oral takes care of the environment for healthy future and for a better life for all and this above all else makes them an ethical company.
References
2011. LOreal to build its largest factory worth $50m in Jababeka [Online]. The Jakarta Post. Available: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/02/18/l%E2%80%99oreal-build-its-largest-factoryworth-50m-jababeka.html 2013]. CARVER, M. 2013. Lean Manufacturing Is a Form of Ethics [Online]. iSixSigma. Available: http://www.isixsigma.com/community/blogs/lean-manufacturing-is-a-form-of-ethics/ 2013]. L'ORAL 2011a. Suppliers at the heart of L'Oral. Sustainable Development Report. p. 34 L'ORAL 2011b. Sustainable Development Report. L'ORAL. 2012. California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 [Online]. Company Overview. Available: http://www.lorealusa.com/_en/_us/html/our-company/operations/sociallyresponsible-supply-chain.aspx. L'ORAL. 2013. Our Values and Ethical Principles [Online]. Available: http://www.loreal.com/group/whowe-are/our-values-and-ethical-principles.aspx. PITMAN, S. 2006. L'Oral builds on skin testing capabilities [Online]. Cosmetics Design-Europe. Available: http://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/Formulation-Science/L-Oreal-builds-on-skin-testingcapabilities 2013].