France
L'Occitane en Provence started in 1976, when Olivier Baussan began distilling rosemary in Manosque and selling it at local markets. Fifty years on, the group is still based in Provence, listed in Hong Kong until it was taken private in 2024, and still built on a few signature ingredients: shea butter, immortelle from Corsica, almond and lavender.
On ethics it leads this list. The L'Occitane Group has been a certified B Corp since 2023, with recertification due in 2026. Its sites run on 100% renewable electricity. Shea butter comes from women's cooperatives in Burkina Faso under long-term contracts, and most best-sellers come in eco-refill pouches that use far less plastic than the bottle. After criticism in spring 2022 the group closed its own shops in Russia.
Our verdict: strong. The certification is independent, the sourcing is documented, and the refill system is real rather than a pilot.
