With the inauguration of a biomass plant in Burgos, Spain, L’Oréal is making a further step forward in reaching carbon neutrality in 2015 for this site specialized in the production of professional hair products to become neutral in CO emissions.

In 2015, 100% of the energy needs for the plant’s manufacturing and packaging processes (steam, hot water, cold water and electricity) would be supplied by a combination of biomass, photovoltaic technology and trigeneration energy.

The Burgos biomass plant covers an area of 3,800 sqm. Its design, construction and management were entrusted to Biocen, a joint venture of the private company Cenit Solar and the Public Infrastructure and Environment Company of Castile-Leon (Sociedad Pública de Infraestructuras y Medio Ambiente de Castilla y León S.A. - SOMACYL).

Biocen has invested 12 million euros for the construction of the power plant and L’Oréal the remaining 2.5 million euros, developing the fluids distribution ring from the biomass plant and adapting the site’s heating and air conditioning system. The thermal energy produced by the biomass plant will be 20,000 MWh/year. The L’Oréal Burgos site will consume 70% of this quantity, while the remaining 30% will be commercialized amongst other companies in the area. 100% of the electricity produced by the plant will be used by the Burgos site. The plant will use estimative 12,000 tonnes/year of waste wood from the forests and sawmills of Castile-Leon region.

The L’Oréal group committed to reduce its environmental footprint by 60% by 2020.