Global beauty company L’Oréal announced the launch of its new Sustainable Innovation Accelerator, a new program aimed at investing €100 million over 5 years to find, develop, pilot and scale breakthrough technologies addressing the company’s and industry’s sustainability-focused challenges. Out of more than 1000 applicants worldwide, Estonian company RAIKU Packaging has been selected as one of just 13 companies to join the L’Oréal Sustainable Innovation Accelerator, with an acceptance rate of 1%.
RAIKU has developed a 100% natural packaging material that offers luxurious aesthetics and excellent shock absorption. The material is one of the lowest carbon footprint materials in the world as the company has brought to the market a radically more efficient production process than traditional industries reporting over 90% resource reduction.
RAIKU, an Estonian startup that developed an innovative packaging filler made from wooden springs and woven wood fabrics, has attracted significant attention from global luxury brands. To meet increasing demand, the company is building a new factory in the epicentre of luxury – France. Read more about RAIKU Packaging.
The company already boasts clients like LVMH and funding support by the toughest European instruments such as €5.6M support from the European Innovation Council. It’s considered as a strategic technology to reduce EU’s and global packaging pollution in a safe and compostable way.
“Being selected by L’Oréal is a strong validation of both our novel material and that world’s largest companies place solid resources to innovate their supply chains in the upcoming years,” said Karl Pärtel, Co-Founder at RAIKU Packaging. “Startups, go for it!”
The L’Oréal selection further validates RAIKU’s natural material and its potential to perform at industrial level. It also confirms a large demand from global industries to find new materials in order to meet consumer expectations and fulfill their strategic goals to reduce their footprint.
RAIKU has developed an innovative packaging filler made from wooden springs and woven wood fabrics. Photo: RAIKU Packaging
What is L’Oréal Accelerator?
The L’Oréal Sustainable Innovation Accelerator builds on the company’s long-standing culture of innovation and forms part of a €100 million investment over five years aimed at accelerating breakthrough technologies across the beauty value chain. The initiative addresses key industry challenges, including sustainable ingredients, alternative packaging materials, low-impact manufacturing, and the elimination of fossil-based plastics.
“Being selected by L’Oréal is a strong validation of both our novel material and that world’s largest companies place solid resources to innovate their supply chains in the upcoming years.”
Karl Pärtel, Co-Founder at RAIKU Packaging
Delivered in partnership with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), the 12-month program supports pilot framing, readiness, and real-world deployment. Participating companies receive tailored support, including up to 12 hours of one-to-one mentoring and coaching from global sustainability, innovation, and industry leaders.
The main effort is to understand whether there’s a potential business opportunity to work together while the programme moves through specific stage gates.
“Joining L´Accelerator is a pivotal opportunity for RAIKU because beauty is one of the fastest-growing segments where sustainability and design excellence go hand in hand,” said Pärtel.
“The program enables us to advance our 100% wood material and demonstrate how to reconcile sustainability, aesthetics and performance,” he added.
By scaling these innovations, L’Oréal aims to accelerate the delivery of its sustainability ambitions.
“Joining L´Accelerator is a pivotal opportunity for RAIKU because beauty is one of the fastest-growing segments where sustainability and design excellence go hand in hand.”
Karl Pärtel, Co-Founder at RAIKU Packaging
GOOD TO KNOW
The L’Oréal Sustainable Innovation Accelerator focuses on six core innovation areas:
- Low-carbon solutions
- Alternative ingredients
- Eliminating fossil plastic use and plastic waste
- Low-impact manufacturing processes
- Water resilience and nature-based solutions
- Inclusive business models
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