Cosmetics industry

Although the regulations do not require it for cosmetic products, the L'Oréal group, in its quest for operational excellence, guarantees consumers the use of purified water of pharmaceutical quality, meeting the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia, when designing its products.

In addition, and as part of its initiative to reduce water consumption, which has been underway for several years, L'Oréal Libramont wanted to set up a cycle for the local reuse of its concentrates and waste, and thus meet all its water requirements for utilities: equipment cleaning, steam production, etc.

In order to produce the pharmaceutical-grade purified water used in its hair colour and hair care products, L'Oréal Libramont asked BWT to design the installation to meet these requirements. Reverse osmosis was chosen, with a double osmosis unit. The first, a bi sigma 6-5HP, is dedicated to the cold loop. It produces compliant water at a rate of 5 m³/h, and incorporates concentrate reprocessing, sequestering pre-treatment and dechlorination. A bi sigma 4-3HP (flow rate 3 m³/h), extendable to 6-5 HP, with the same features, completes the hot loop system.

If one of the two circuits is shut down, for maintenance for example, each osmosis unit can temporarily supply the other loop, thereby guaranteeing continuous operation of the system.

With the aim of reducing the site's overall water consumption, L'Oréal Libramont began by collecting the start-up water from these two osmosis units, which is then sent to the cooling system for reuse. The final discharge is sent to the WWTP.

At the end of this first stage, BWT France offered the cosmetics giant's site a complete reuse system. The plant's effluent is stored in the WWTP, where it undergoes decantation and bacterial treatment. Two ultrafiltration units then remove most of the impurities. Finally, this filtered water undergoes reverse osmosis treatment with 12 membranes, with a flow rate of 10 m³/h, for safe use in utilities.

 “At L'Oréal Libramont, we are proud to be one of the Group's pioneers in Europe and in the cosmetics industry,” explains Claude Deroanne, Environmental Manager in charge of water, waste, biodiversity and energy at L'Oréal Libramont. Our water conservation policy is an illustration of the many actions undertaken to promote the ecological transition of our plant: since 2014, no less than 500,000 m³ of water have been saved on the site”.

 “Thanks to the support of BWT France, we have been able to put these commitments into practice and have been recognised as a Waterloop Factory since 2019, while maintaining the excellence for which the brand is renowned.”

"We now have a more efficient installation with an efficiency of 87%, which allows us to optimise dosing and its precision. We called on BWT France to improve our industrial performance, while preserving our water resources, and it's a success," adds Inès Marquilly, New Works Maintenance Manager at L'Oréal Libramont.