Innovating and collaborating for beauty with no animal testing
During the 2024 ESTIV Congress, L’Oréal showcased the latest advancements in its research on non-animal testing methods.
Our vision of beauty? Beauty without animal testing. This conviction has been upheld by L’Oréal since 1989 when the Group stopped animal testing on its products—14 years prior to the European regulation prohibiting such tests.
A pioneer in non-animal testing methods
Since then, L’Oréal has been a pioneer and at the forefront of non-animal testing methods for over 40 years, particularly through the development of reconstructed human skin technology. The Group and its research (Research & Innovation - R&I) can rely on the expertise of one of its subsidiaries, Episkin, specialized in the development of reconstructed human skin. This technology not only provides an ethical testing method but also proves to be more reliable and relevant.
In addition to reconstructed skin, our researchers utilize other testing methods, such as harnessing the potential of data and "in silico" tests—computer-based tests. The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence is a significant driver for improving these methods. In this field, innovation is constant, and this is what our researchers came to present at the 2024 European Society of Toxicology In Vitro (ESTIV) Congress.
Promoting testing methods within the scientific community
The European Society of Toxicology In Vitro (ESTIV) is the leading organization in Europe for specialists in in vitro toxicology. It promotes alternative methods and organizes biennial events attended by leading experts in in vitro and in silico toxicology.
For L’Oréal, participation in this congress is a unique opportunity to showcase our advancements in alternative testing methods and to advocate for these methods, convincing regulatory authorities of their relevance and reliability.
During a session organized with the animal protection NGO, Human Society International, our researchers were able to address the challenges of knowledge sharing and education on new generations of risk assessment, which is critical to foster the use of non-animal testing methods worldwide.
"As pioneers of non-animal testing methods, we must continue to drive multidisciplinary innovation in this field and offer increasingly reliable alternative methods. Our commitments focus on scientific programs aimed at developing new methods without animal testing, international collaboration, and educational programs to encourage their acceptance by authorities."
Valérie Michaut, Head of PredictiveTechnologyDepartment, L’Oréal R&I
Episkin Academy: share the knowledge for beauty without animal testing
The ESTIV congress concluded with two days of workshops organized by the Episkin Academy, in conjunction with AFSA Masterclass. For L’Oréal, widespread the use of alternative methods requires sharing knowledge and collaboration. Thus, during these workshops, participants were able to discover and test Episkin’s reconstructed skin technology.
Since 2011, L’Oréal, through the Episkin Academy, has trained over 1,500 individuals worldwide, including academics, suppliers, testing companies, and competitors, in alternative methods through more over 60 sessions.
Through these workshops and our communications, we contribute to raising awareness of alternative testing methods, and we encourage our ecosystem of partners and suppliers as well as players in the cosmetics industry and industry in general to utilize these methods.