Responsible Sourcing, Production and Packaging

Just as NIVEA respects the human skin’s natural balance, we respect nature itself. That’s why we are committed to continuous improvement in sustainability at every step – from our formulas to the way we produce and package our skincare and beyond.

RESPONSIBLE SOURCING

DEFORESTATION FIGHT

We join the fight against deforestation to protect our planet’s biodiversity and our climate. Deforestation is one of the biggest drivers of climate change. Without forests, many species lose their habitat and the Earth its “green lungs”.

As part of our fight against deforestation, we use paper and cardboard certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and source exclusively FSC-certified or recycled paper from 2020.

Sustainable from the start

Good things come from the best possible sources. We strive to use sustainably sourced raw materials that are renewable where possible. Our research teams keep looking for new, better ingredients and alternative sources in order to reduce our environmental impact.

We keep an open mind for the most sustainable solution, which may also include using an ingredient synthetically instead of using the natural source. In many cases, synthetically produced ingredients are more pure and of more consistent quality, and do not need fields to grow plants and water crops. In some cases, this may make synthetically produced ingredients the more resource-friendly choice, Whether renewable and natural or synthetic: for NIVEA, safety, quality and sustainability are top criteria when sourcing our ingredients.

SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL SOURCING

Palm oil derivatives are used in 70% of all cosmetics products, including some NIVEA products. The problem with palm oil is that often large areas of rainforest are destroyed in order to make room for oil palm plantations. We believe that palm oil needs to be sourced sustainably without contributing to deforestation. However, replacing the high yield palm oil with another plant-based oil is not the best option. This is because an alternative, less-yielding vegetable oil options would be less sustainable since it would require more land to grow the crops.

Instead, we promote the shift to sustainably produced palm oil with our partners along the entire supply chain. Beiersdorf has joined the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the Forum for Sustainable Palm Oil (FONAP).

Guided by our “Palm Sustainability Roadmap”, we are on a journey to procuring only certified sustainable palm kernel oil derivatives worldwide. This includes our support for FONAP’s expanded certification criteria for more sustainable palm kernel oil – e.g. reduction targets for greenhouse gases and a ban of palm plantations on peat land and other carbon-rich land.

From 2020, we sourced all Beiersdorf raw materials based on palm (kernel) oil from sustainable sources. By 2018, we had already covered 63% of our palm-based raw material volumes with sustainably certified raw materials (RSPO “Mass Balance” standard).

In 2018, for the first time, we participated in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Forest Program and were awarded a “Score A” for our efforts to combat deforestation in our palm oil supply chain.

OUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION COMMITMENT

We are committed to reducing our CO2 footprint – and our energy goals are ambitious. By 2025, we want to reduce our energy-related CO2 emissions by 70% vs. 2014 for each NIVEA product we manufacture!

We started by reviewing the energy infrastructure for all our production facilities that still use energy from conventional sources. By the end of 2018, we already reached 59% reduction. We switched all facilities to renewable energy, including our large production centers in Germany and Spain, with the exception of our plants in Mexico and Nigeria. By 2020, we plan to use only renewable energy wherever we make NIVEA products, which will substantially reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

ZERO WASTE TO LANDFILL COMMITMENT

None of our established production centers send waste to landfills. Instead, all waste is recycled or incinerated to create heat and electricity. This means that our production waste does not end up in the environment. From something to get rid of, waste is turned into new material or a source of energy.

RECYCLING

We work toward a circular economy by increasingly using recycled materials in our packaging. That way, NIVEA contributes to the Beiersdorf goal of 25% of recycled material in plastic packaging in Europe by 2025. Further, we are aiming for 100% recyclable, compostable or reusable packaging by 2025.

RESPECTING OUR OCEANS

As early as 2013, we decided to phase out plastic peeling particles made from polyethylene from our products. Two years later, all our formulas were microbead-free. By 2021, we aim to have 100% of NIVEA products, free of any microplastics (as per UNEP definition).

Our sunscreen products here in Australia are made with Ocean Respect: 100% compliant with the Hawaii Reef Bill and in a readily Biodegradable Formula.

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING PHILOSOPHY

We want to make sure that everything about our products is sustainable – including the first thing you see of every NIVEA product: its package. As early as 2009, we put environmentally friendly packaging on our agenda. Following the principle “avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle”, we use packaging that keeps your NIVEA products safely fresh while our impact on the environment gets gradually lower and lower.

MORE ON SUSTAINABILITY

NIVEA’S CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY TARGETS

Understand our sustainability approach in regard to reducing CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions, plastic, recycling, palm oil sourcing, free-from microplastics and more. In 2020, we have set new targets to meet in 2025 following the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

We are committed to deliver transparency in our environmental commitments and stance on animal testing. We are passionate about research for better, safer and more sustainable formulas and ingredients.