THE WHAT? The Estée Lauder Companies has announced a €5.7 million investment in advanced water infrastructure at its Oevel manufacturing campus in Belgium, aimed at improving resource efficiency, reducing water consumption and strengthening manufacturing resilience.
THE DETAILS The investment forms part of a broader transformation of Oevel, one of Estée Lauder’s largest manufacturing facilities worldwide. The project will introduce an integrated water circularity system combining enhanced water purification, water reuse during equipment cleaning and sanitisation, and wastewater recycling. Once operational, the technology is expected to reduce water intensity from 9.3 litres to 3.6 litres per kilogram of product, saving approximately 25 million litres annually. The facility will serve as a pilot for potential deployment across the company’s global manufacturing network. Estée Lauder has invested more than €150 million in Oevel over the past decade, covering manufacturing, logistics, biotechnology, automation, digital technologies and sustainability initiatives.
THE WHY? The investment highlights the growing importance of water efficiency, automation and resource management in cosmetics manufacturing, as global beauty companies seek to strengthen supply chain resilience, reduce operational costs and maintain production competitiveness amid increasing environmental and resource pressures.
Source: Estée Lauder Companies
