Our vision: climate neutrality

ONE SKIN. ONE PLANET. ONE CARE.

OUR VISION: CLIMATE NEUTRALITY

The fight against climate change is humankind’s most important environmental challenge. That is why NIVEA is taking climate care and has set ambitious climate targets on a company level that are in line with the latest climate science. These targets not only cover the significant reduction of CO₂ emissions at our production sites, but also extend to the indirect emissions associated with our overall value chain such as the ingredients and packaging materials we use for our NIVEA products.

By reducing our overall emissions – along our entire value chain by 30% by 2025, compared to 2018 - NIVEA is doing its part to slow down global warming. This target is in line with the recommendations of independent scientists to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

HOW DOES NIVEA DEVELOP CLIMATE-FRIENDLIER SKINCARE PRODUCTS?

The first step towards developing climate-friendlier skincare products is to create transparency of what drives CO₂ emissions. We measure the CO₂ footprint of our NIVEA products by conducting life-cycle-analyses in cooperation with external experts and in line with widely accepted scientific standards. These analyses look at all greenhouse gas emissions at each stage of the product life cycle.

Based on the results of our life-cycle-analyses, we identify measures to reduce our products’ CO₂ footprint. Examples include using sustainably certified ingredients or incorporating recycled material into our packaging.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE STAGES

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.

DISTRIBUTION

Products are distributed to users and may be stored at various points along the supply chain. The distribution stage includes the transport from factory gate to warehouses or to stores as well as the 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 energy generated to heat water used to rinse off the products. Emissions generated during the use phase are outside of 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 is 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).

BEYOND REDUCTION: NIVEA’S 100% CLIMATE-NEUTRALIZED SKINCARE PRODUCTS

But we go one step further; in addition to reducing the CO₂-footprint, NIVEA is balancing the remaining emissions of many of your favorite products through certified climate projects, making them 100% climate-neutralized products.

In 2021, we introduced our first climate-neutralized product range: Naturally Good Face Care. Following the principle of measure, reduce and balance, we continue to expand our portfolio of 100% climate-neutralized products.

EXPLORE OUR CLIMATE-NEUTRALIZED SHOWER RANGE

Our new NIVEA Shower products are even more sustainable than before:

Formulated with skin protecting oils and vitamins that are free from microplastics and 98% biodegradable. 100% of the palm(kernel)-oil based ingredients used are sustainably sourced.
The bottles are 25% lighter than before and made from 97% recycled PE (opaque bottles) or PET (transparent bottles) plastic. And lighter packaging also means fewer transport emissions. These improvements lead to an overall reduction of the packaging related emissions of -32 %*, based on a comparison of the new and current 250ml bottle.
The range is manufactured in our production center in Berlin that has been running solely on electricity from renewable sources and biogas since 2022.

*32% less CO₂ emissions by the use of recycled plastic. Compared to previous packaging made from virgin plastic.

HOW NIVEA SUPPORTS NATURAL CO₂ ABSORPTION

In 2022, we are opening a new chapter in NIVEA’s Climate Care journey, by supporting certified climate projects, which support CO₂ absorption in a natural way, for example through afforestation.

When we select climate projects, we ensure that our positive impact is real, measurable, permanent, and third-party verified. This is achieved by working with expert organizations and supporting only projects which are certified and regularly audited based on external international standards, such as the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) or the Gold Standard.

DISCOVER OUR CLIMATE PROTECTION PROJECTS

Planting trees along with capturing and storing carbon dioxide is one of the most straightforward contributions to fight climate change. But these climate projects do more: they create employment opportunities, increase the quality of life for the most vulnerable and bring back biodiversity. Three of our current forest regeneration projects are in South America.

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 characterized by the livestock industry. Few job opportunities, precarious working conditions, a diminishing biodiversity. The Guanaré Forest project helps planting 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 – Columbia:

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. 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.

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CLIMATE-NEUTRAL OPERATIONS BY 2030

Our commitment to protecting our planet and our communities also extends to the way we produce NIVEA skincare at our production sites. Since the end of 2019, all our NIVEA production facilities have been running completely on electricity from renewable sources. This commitment has significantly reduced our energy-related CO₂ emissions. However, we are looking to reduce our carbon footprint even further with the overall goal of achieving climate-neutral operations by 2030.

ONE SKIN. ONE PLANET. ONE CARE.

We want to be 100 percent transparent and answer all your questions about sustainability at NIVEA. If you could not find all the answers you were looking for on this website, or are looking for more detailed information, please visit the sustainability website of NIVEA’s parent company, Beiersdorf.