L’Oréal Welcomes Two Indian Startups to Second L’AcceleratOR Cohort

L’Oréal has announced the second cohort of its flagship sustainable innovation programme, L’AcceleratOR, featuring 13 pioneering companies from eight countries, including two Indian startups. Backed by a €100 million fund, the programme identifies, pilots and scales technologies addressing critical challenges related to climate, nature and circularity.

The Indian participants selected for the latest cohort are Without and Nexus [Felis Leo Widgets], both developing circular technology solutions with applications across sustainable industrial processes.

Without is a climate-tech company focused on recycling hard-to-recycle flexible packaging and converting it into durable materials. The startup was previously recognised as a winner of the L’Oréal SAPMENA Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program.

Nexus [Felis Leo Widgets] is developing circular technology that uses agricultural waste to produce energy-storage batteries, addressing both waste management and energy-storage challenges.

Startups Enter Pilot-Ready Acceleration Phase

The 13 selected companies will enter an intensive acceleration phase led by the innovation team of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). The programme will focus on preparing the solutions for pilot projects while providing participating companies with access to L’Oréal’s global resources.

Selected innovators will have the opportunity to launch six-to-nine-month pilot projects, with the potential for successful solutions to be scaled across L’Oréal’s international operations.

“We are working to unlock new frontiers in the beauty industry through pioneering solutions,” said Ezgi Barcenas, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at L’Oréal. “This second L’AcceleratOR cohort reflects our ambition to bring together entrepreneurial ingenuity, scientific progress and the global reach of L’Oréal to help scale breakthrough innovations.”

Jacques Lebel, Managing Director, L’Oréal India, said: “India’s startup ecosystem is now the third largest in the world, and what continues to impress me is how fearlessly Indian entrepreneurs tackle complex, structural challenges, from agricultural residue to flexible packaging. Sustainability must be practical, scalable, and grounded in real-world impact. Combining that local entrepreneurial ingenuity with L’Oréal’s scientific rigour and global footprint is our winning formula. We are proud to see Indian minds taking centre stage to shape more circular solutions, not just for this market, but for the world.”

Broader Sustainability Focus

The second edition of L’AcceleratOR expands on the programme’s first cohort with a wider geographical footprint and a broader range of sustainability challenges. The latest cohort also includes the programme’s first selection focused on water technology.

The 13 innovators are working across next-generation packaging and materials, innovative ingredients and formulas, advanced industrial processes and data intelligence.

Global Cohort of 13 Change Makers

Next-Generation Packaging & Materials

• Arda Biomaterials, UK: Developing a plant-based leather alternative for premium materials.
• Bormioli Luigi, Italy: Developing ultra-light and resistant glass packaging.
• Auressens, France: Creating metal-free, recyclable reflective pigments for packaging.
• Newlight Technologies, Inc., USA: Converting methane into packaging materials.

Innovative Ingredients & Formulas

• Bioweg, Germany: Using precision fermentation to develop new raw materials.
• Envision Energy, China: Developing green ammonia for hair colourants using renewable energy.

Advanced Industrial Processes

• Without, India: Developing recycling technology for hard-to-recycle flexible packaging.
• HCpect, China: Using novel chemical recycling technology to treat plastic waste.
• MacroCycle, USA: Recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) through a low-carbon process.
• Nexus [Felis Leo Widgets], India: Producing batteries from agricultural waste using circular technology.
• Upheat Solutions Oy, Finland: Developing industrial heat pumps to improve energy efficiency.
• Laminar, USA: Using intelligent sensor technology to improve industrial water management and reduce overall water usage.

Data Intelligence

• Waterplan, USA: Using an AI-native platform to address water and biodiversity risks and support local action.

New Docuseries Highlights Startup Collaborations

Alongside the announcement of the second cohort, L’Oréal has launched Entering L’AcceleratOR, a new docuseries following three companies from the programme’s inaugural cohort.

The series provides a behind-the-scenes look at how startups and L’Oréal teams collaborated to pilot innovative technologies and explore their path towards commercialisation. The first episode is available on L’Oréal’s YouTube channel, with further episodes set to follow.

The L’AcceleratOR programme will continue tracking the progress of its selected innovators while preparing for the launch of its next application cycle.