Packaging

All product boxes are made from 100% recycled fiberboard and FSC-certified paper and prints with 100% soy-based inks. Perfumes, perfume oils, and candles are packaged in glass containers instead of plastic, and they never use cellophane shrink-wrap on boxes. Where plastic is necessary (e.g. for lotion or diffuser bottles), the brand has transitioned to 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. In fact, by early 2022 they had replaced all PET plastic containers with 100% recycled plastic versions.

Maison Louis Marie is also moving toward refillable packaging. The company has plans to offer refill solutions for lotions, washes, and diffusers by 2025, which could reduce the plastic packaging use of those products by an estimated 75%.

Ingredient Sustainability

The formulators intentionally use synthetic alternatives for certain natural materials to prevent ecological harm. For example, rather than over-harvesting rare plants or endangered botanicals for fragrance, they will use safe synthetic versions. This practice shows up in choices like using synthetic musk (to avoid animal-derived musk) and potentially using cultivated or synthetic sandalwood in lieu of sourcing from endangered sandalwood trees.

At the same time, the brand incorporates plenty of plant-derived inputs from low-impact crops: its lotions and body care feature organic plant oils (jojoba, sunflower, avocado) and herbal extracts (green tea, cucumber, chamomile, etc.) rather than petrochemical emollients.

Additionally, some synthetic compounds used could carry environmental baggage: for instance, the Bois de Balincourt deodorant formula includes a petroleum-derived solvent (isohexadecane) and a polyacrylate thickener. These types of ingredients, while safe and effective, are not biodegradable and can be considered microplastics or petrochemicals. The presence of Polysorbate 80 in formulations (a synthetic emulsifier) is another example. It's effective, but ethoxylated ingredients may have pollution concerns from their manufacturing process. Fortunately, the brand's candle wax is a renewable soy-based blend.

Energy Use and Footprint

The company joined Climate Neutral and has been certified since 2021, meaning it measures its greenhouse gas emissions annually and offsets them to achieve net zero carbon emissions for its operations and products. In 2023, for example, Maison Louis Marie's total measured footprint was about 458 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent and the brand offset 100% of that impact through verified climate projects. The company has a publicly stated emissions reduction target of cutting its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 (from the 2021 baseline).

Waste Management

While detailed information isn't provided about factory or office waste, the Climate Neutral profile suggests a mindset of efficiency (e.g., moving to a solar-powered HQ). Maison Louis Marie has committed to developing refill options for its lotions, washes, and diffuser oils, aiming to cut down associated plastic packaging by ~75%.

We found no evidence of waste-related greenwashing; the claims (recycled content, recyclable packaging) are specific and verifiable.

Business Model

Since its founding, Maison Louis Marie has grown organically and remained independent (no big corporate parent or venture capital push for rapid expansion). Maison Louis Marie is not a fast-fashion type beauty brand. It's building a brand for longevity, focusing on quality formulations, a consistent aesthetic, and repeat customers who value the product. They integrate slow principles (heritage inspiration, local production, refills) with some circular practices.