Our vision:
Net Zero 2045

ONE SKIN. ONE PLANET. ONE CARE.

Our vision: Net Zero 2045

Our vision for 2045 recognises that tackling climate change is one of the world’s most significant environmental challenges. To contribute to this effort, we have established company‑wide climate targets that are consistent with a 1.5°C pathway. These targets are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our operations and throughout our value chain.

Our climate strategy includes reducing emissions at our production sites as well as addressing indirect emissions associated with other stages of the product life cycle, such as the sourcing of ingredients and packaging materials.

How do we develop products with a lower climate impact?

Understanding the greenhouse gas emissions associated with our products is an important step in identifying opportunities for improvement. We assess the carbon footprint of our products by conducting life cycle analyses in collaboration with external experts and by using internationally recognised methodologies.

These assessments evaluate the relevant greenhouse gas emissions associated with each stage of a product’s life cycle. The results help us identify opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint, for example by sourcing certified ingredients where appropriate and increasing the use of recycled materials in our packaging.

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Learn more about
THE PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE STAGES

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RAW MATERIAL PRODUCTION

The life cycle starts when resources are extracted from the environment and further processed. This stage ends when product components enter our NIVEA production sites.

MANUFACTURING

The production stage begins when the product components enter our production sites and ends when the finished product leaves our production facility.

Smiling woman holding a brown dropper bottle of NIVEA Q10 Anti-Wrinkle serum near her chin

DISTRIBUTION

Products are distributed to users and may be stored at various points along the supply chain. The distribution stage includes transport from the factory gate to warehouses or to stores as well as transport to the consumer's home.

USE STAGE

The use stage describes how the product is expected to be used by the consumer. Applying our skincare products does not cause any CO₂ emissions; however, there are emissions associated with the use of our products, for example the energy generated to heat water used to rinse off the products. Emissions generated during the use phase are outside our control and therefore cannot be considered when neutralising the emissions of our products.

END OF LIFE

The end‑of‑life stage begins when the product and its packaging are discarded by the consumer and ends when the product is returned to the environment as waste or enters another product's life cycle (i.e. as a recycled input).

NIVEA Soft

Millions of people around the world love NIVEA Soft for its light texture and pleasant skin feel. By carefully reviewing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the product and making targeted improvements, the current Vegan formula has a 28% lower carbon footprint* compared with the previous version, without compromising the product experience consumers enjoy.

NIVEA Deo stick

Another example is our deodorant sticks. Compact, easy to carry, and convenient for on‑the‑go use, they are a practical choice for everyday life. At the same time, deodorant sticks can have a significantly lower carbon footprint per application – by up to 68%* compared with aerosol deodorants – helping consumers make a more sustainable choice without compromising on effective protection.

*Based on a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) conducted by an external partner in accordance with ISO 14040/14044, including independent critical review. Results are based on the Environmental Footprint (EF) method (European Commission, JRC), Climate change indicator (GWP100).

In the past, we have climate‑neutralised some products by supporting certified climate projects. These projects supported CO2 absorption in a natural way, for example through afforestation. Working together with expert organisations, only projects that were certified and regularly audited based on external standards, such as the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) or the Gold Standard, were chosen.

Please see our climate protection projects for more information:

Guanaré Forest Restoration in Uruguay:

For more than 300 years, the project’s rehabilitation sites in Guanaré have been grassland for cattle. The rural landscape of eastern Uruguay has been characterised by the livestock industry: few job opportunities, precarious working conditions and diminishing biodiversity. The Guanaré Forest project helps plant primarily eucalyptus tree species – 21,000 hectares and over 1,000 seed lines per hectare. This will establish sustainable woodlots throughout the grasslands, with remaining pastures for the cattle. The newly restored woodland habitat brings biodiversity back, helps to develop a sustainable timber industry (FSC standard) and contributes to better regional development.

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Reforestation Paraguay:

For nearly 500 years, Paraguay has used much of its grasslands and prairies for cattle farming, with the main export of the country being high‑quality beef. As deforestation continues to sweep through the Amazon rainforest, it has become vital to reforest such areas of expansive, degraded grasslands to relieve pressure on South America's natural resources and curb harmful carbon emissions from the Earth's atmosphere. Based in eastern Paraguay, the project has already reforested more than 2,700 hectares of land, with over 1,100 hectares to be established in the coming years. It also helps local, underserved communities in Paraguay by creating fair employment, wages and training for workers, opportunities for women to strengthen gender equality, and improved infrastructure.

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VICHADA – COLOMBIA:

The project is nestled in the incredibly biodiverse Orinoco River basin, which houses two ecosystems that are critically endangered by deforestation. The Puerto Carreño project is designed to create a commercially viable alternative to extensive cattle ranching, which has left much of the project area degraded. By increasing forest cover in the region, carbon is absorbed and captured, and sustainable timber is produced. Under the supervision of local experts, almost 200 local employees plant, maintain and harvest carefully selected native tree species across 3,000 hectares. The project has driven a shift in how the land is used, turning it back into a healthy carbon sink.

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Sustainable grassland management in Northern Kenya

Carbon is not only stored in forests all around the world, but also in healthy soils, which take up water and become the basis for thriving vegetation and habitats for countless species. However, this natural balance is disturbed when land is used continuously and in an unrestricted way for grazing livestock. This is where our climate project across 2 million hectares in Northern Kenya starts. By establishing more sustainable, rotating grazing practices, the soil has time to recover and remain healthy. A small change with significant effects for climate protection and the wellbeing of local communities: through more carbon stored in the soil, the land can also store more water during dry periods, which will in turn help local communities to address the effects of climate change and drought.

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One skin. ONE PLANET. ONE CARE.

We are committed to providing clear and transparent information about sustainability at NIVEA. If you would like to learn more about our commitments, targets and progress, please visit the sustainability website of NIVEA's parent company, Beiersdorf.