Q: What is CO 2 e footprint?

The carbon dioxide equivalent or CO2e is a standard unit for measuring carbon footprints. The idea is to express the impact of each different Greenhouse Gas (such as methane, nitrous oxide, etc.) in terms of the amount of CO2e that would create the same amount of global warming. CO2e is used for emissions measuring and reporting.

Eucerin commits to scientifically approved climate targets.

Our climate commitment - rooted in science

Climate change is humankind’s most critical environmental challenge. The fight against climate change and towards a better future requires every one of us to take conscious decisions and ambitious measures to significantly reduce global CO₂e emissions. For Eucerin, this means rethinking how we innovate, source, produce and package our products.

Our approach and ambition are always led by climate science.

We are contributing to the overall target of Beiersdorf, our parent company, to reduce value chain emissions by 30% by 2025. This way, we ensure a greater overall impact.

Eucerin’s Climate Journey

Already, we can look back on many meaningful milestones that contribute towards our vision of climate neutrality.

Set in 2011, our first CO₂e reduction target was to reduce our energy related
emissions by 30% per product sold by 2020. This target was reached in 2014, ahead of schedule.
Since the end of 2019, 100% of the electricity used in our production facilities comes from renewable sources.
In 2020, our climate targets were approved by the “Science Based Target Initiative”. They are in line with independent scientists’ recommendations for avoiding the consequences of more than a 1.5 °C rise in global temperature.
By 2025, we will reduce total value chain emissions by 30% compared to 2018, in the context of Beiersdorf’s climate strategy.
By 2030, all our factories and overall operations will be climate neutral.

Find out more about our climate ambitions and actions

Measuring our emissions on product and company level

The first step towards developing more climate-friendly skincare is to create transparency on what drives CO₂e emissions. We measure the CO₂e footprint of our EUCERIN products by conducting life cycle analyses in cooperation with external experts and in line with widely accepted scientific standards. These analyses look at all climate-impacting gases (e.g. methane or nitrous oxide) at each stage of the product life cycle – from raw material sourcing, production and all the way to disposal. This impact is expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents and calculated to one final score. Find out more about the different life cycle stages in the graphic below.

Life cycle stages

Raw material production

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

Manufacturing

The production stage begins at the doorstep of our production sites and ends when the finished product leaves our production facility.

Distribution

The distribution stage includes the transport from factory gate to warehouses, stores and consumers’ homes.

Use stage

The use stage expresses the emissions that occur during product usage. Using our skincare products does not cause any additional emissions, whereas hot water used for applying products which have to be rinsed off causes CO₂e emissions. These emissions are out of our control and not part of our emission reduction target and neutralization.

Disposal

The end-of-life stage begins when the product and its packaging are discarded by the consumer.

End of life

The end-of-life stage ends when the product is returned to the environment as waste or enters another product’s life cycle (i.e. as a recycled material in our plastic bottles).

Reducing emissions without compromising on product efficacy

We know how important efficacy is – especially when it comes to skin concerns. For us, this is not an either-or decision: At Eucerin, we take responsibility for your skin and our planet. When improving the CO₂e footprint of our products, we don’t do this at the expense of efficacy. Rather, we combine our expertise in skin research with the latest scientific findings on low CO₂e solutions. So how does this work? Examples on how we reduce our footprints are as individual as our products and formulations. Most commonly, we increase sustainably sourced ingredients or materials by changing the origin of a raw material to a source with lower CO₂e impact or incorporating recycled material into our packaging.

Examples on how Eucerin reduces CO₂e emissions

Increasing the share of certified raw materials with a lower CO₂e footprint, greater social impact, and same skin performance
Changing the source of single raw materials (feedstocks)
Using only renewable electricity in our production facilities (since end of 2019)
Introducing new state-of-the-art production processes
Using recycled materials in our packaging with a lower CO₂e footprint
Reducing the weight of our packaging, making it lightweight
Reducing folding boxes and eliminating leaflets from our packaging, increasing the recyclability of our packaging

Balancing remaining emissions - 100% transparency

At Eucerin, we are not only measuring our footprint and reducing emissions throughout our portfolio. We now go the extra mile by balancing those remaining emissions for selected products. These products are then considered climate neutralised, setting new standards for sustainable products at Eucerin. All climate neutralized products can be identified by our icon.

To ensure full transparency, all neutralised emissions are recorded by an independent organization and can be viewed here: Verified Carbon Standard – Vera

pH5 - Comfort and protection for sensitive skin. Now with lower CO₂e footprint

Our sustainability journey is now accelerated with Eucerin’s pH5 range, by improving both formulas and packaging to take steps towards a more sustainable future.

All pH5 formulas are 100% microplastic free (Microplastic according to UNEP definition), making them not only gentle on the skin, but also on the environment
Our transparent bottles are made of 99% recycled PET (excluding label and cap) and by that reducing 14,9% packaging related CO₂e emissions (when using a 400ml recycled PET bottle compared to a 400ml virgin PET bottle).
Our 400ml refill pouches reduce plastic consumption by 65% (compared to the standard 400 ml bottles) and by that reducing 41,2% packaging related CO₂e emissions (by using a 400ml PP pouch compared to a 400ml recycled PET bottle).
100% climate neutralized* Refills and RPET bottles

Meet our new Hyaluron-Filler refills

Our new Hyaluron-Filler Refills for our Hyaluron-Filler jars are a true sustainable innovation. The new refills are compatible with our Hyaluron-Filler Day SPF 15 and Night Cream and can easily be exchanged after usage. Each time you purchase a new refill and continue using your previous jar, you can save up to 90% plastic.

A refill capsule uses 90% less plastic compared to the standard jar product and by that reduces packaging related CO₂e emissions by 71,5% (by using only a 50ml PP inner jar compared to a 50ml PET outer jar).
The folding box which holds the refill capsule is made of 91.7% recycled paper
Microplastic free formulations (Microplastic according to UNEP definition)
100% climate neutralized*

Full transparency: climate-neutralised or climate-neutral products?

What does climate neutralised mean – and why don't we talk about climate neutral products? Climate neutralised means that the remaining emissions of a product are balanced by certified climate projects such as the planting of new trees or even entire forests. On the other hand, it does not mean that the product is free of emissions. Even with the most advanced production processes, lightweight packaging, refill concepts and packaging components made of recycled materials, there would always be remaining emissions.

Just as we place the very highest demands on the quality of our products, transparent communication is just as important to us. That is why we refer to our pH5 Refill Bags and RPET Bottles as well as our Hyaluron-Filler Refills for Day SPF 15 & Night Cream as climate-neutralised* and not climate-neutral. The crucial difference: our products are not free of emissions, but we do our best to go the extra mile towards balancing the remaining emissions. For us, climate-neutralised means that any emissions are now balanced. Climate neutral, on the other hand, can give the impression that the product is completely free of emissions.

Our certified climate project

Beiersdorf, our parent company, supports certified climate projects in almost every continent. For Eucerin, we selected a project 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. Through 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.

FAQ

What are greenhouse gases (GHG)?

Greenhouse gases (GHG) are any gases in the atmosphere which absorb and re‐emit heat, and thereby keep the planet’s atmosphere warmer than it otherwise would be. The main GHGs in the Earth’s atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO₂e), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and ozone.

What is CO₂e footprint?

The carbon dioxide equivalent or CO₂e is a standard unit for measuring carbon footprints. The idea is to express the impact of each different Greenhouse Gas (such as methane, nitrous oxide, etc.) in terms of the amount of CO₂e that would create the same amount of global warming. CO₂e is used for emissions measuring and reporting.