Earlier this year, L’Oréal called all digital & tech startups working towards sustainable, responsible and inclusive beauty to join enter the Beauty Tech for Good Challenge.
The competition was designed along three lines: environmental protection, ethical artificial intelligence and inclusivity. Selected by a committee of experts out of 115 entries from 40 countries, the three winners were chosen by a jury made up of members of the L’Oréal executive committee.
WhatRocks (Canada),DePoly (Switzerland) and Reforestum (Spain) won this year’s competition. All three companies will join a six-month L’Oréal incubation programme at Station F, the largest startup campus in the world, and take part in Viva Technology 2021.
The startups will have access to personalised mentoring from top L’Oréal specialists as well as opportunities for partnerships with L’Oréal brands to invent together the ‘Beauty Tech for Good’ of the future.
WhatRocks is the solidarity advertising label. The startup allows brands to donate a part of the profits from their advertising campaigns to charities.DePoly recycles PET plastic using a room temperature chemical method which can transform waste which is not currently recycled, such as mixed coloured plastic or plastic containing polyester fibres. The resulting raw material can be used to produce new PET plastic.
Reforestum from enables companies and individuals to combat climate change and compensate their carbon footprint by growing certified forest projects which users can trace through satellite images analysed using AI. Reforestum is on a mission to make reforestation carbon offsets more transparent and trustworthy.
“With their innovative projects in the areas of solidarity advertising, carbon footprint and plastic recycling, WhatRocks, Reforestum and DePoly offer solutions for a more sustainable, responsible and inclusive future. We are delighted to welcome them to our programme at Station F to help them grow and raise their profile, whilst working with L’Oréal brands and our ecosystem,” said Lubomira Rochet, L’Oréal chief digital officer.
