[Toronto – October 16, 2024] – Driving sustainability requires more than innovation—it requires a shared vision and collaborative efforts across industries. This was the focus during Maya Colombani and Patricia ’s recent visit to Evoco Ltd’s Toronto office and cutting-edge labs. As Chief Sustainability & Human Rights Officer at L’Oréal Canada, Colombani has been a vocal advocate for circular practices and bio-based materials as alternatives to fossil fuels, a mission that resonates deeply with Evoco. 

L’Oréal, through its Circular Innovation Fund, has invested 50 million euros globally to support groundbreaking solutions aimed at reducing environmental impact. Through this fund, managed in part by Cycle Capital, Colombani was introduced to Evoco—a disruptive Canadian company that is transforming the material landscape with its innovative bio-based solutions. Their shared vision highlights the importance of collaboration in addressing one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions: materials. 

Material production alone account for up to 20% of global GHG emissions, underscoring the need for new approaches. Evoco, with its diverse team headquartered in Toronto’s MaRS Discovery District and a manufacturing facility in Vietnam, has already demonstrated its ability to make a difference, reducing 1.5KT of CO2e emissions through its bio-based materials. 

The alignment between Colombani’s work at L’Oréal and Evoco’s mission exemplifies the power of collective efforts and shared perspectives in advancing sustainable innovation. Both recognize that plants can offer viable alternatives to fossil-based raw materials and that real change will come from fostering collaboration between innovators, investors, and sustainability advocates across industries.