2025 Universal Registration Document

4.4 Water resources: consumption and withdrawals (E3)

4.4.1 Background

The challenge of preserving water is recognised by the international scientific community. Water is an essential resource for the production and use of L'Oréal products, and its sustainable management is a key priority for the Group. In that context, L'Oréal seeks to use its influence on the value chain and in all the watersheds in which it operates.

The Group is taking action at all levels to limit the water footprint linked to its business activities:

• at operated sites, including on industrial uses such as cleaning production equipment or producing steam;
• upstream in the value chain, by encouraging suppliers to adopt sustainable practices; and
• downstream in the value chain, by optimising product usage among consumers.

This section covers the quantities of water withdrawn and used. Aspects relating to water quality and pollution are dealt with in section 4.3 (ESRS E2), and impacts on biodiversity in section 4.5 (ESRS E4).