Here’s a polished English translation of the title: **”Hard Not to Be ‘Chip’-tivated: L’Oréal Hosts Sustainable Consumption Salon at 2026 Carbon Neutrality Expo, Exploring the ‘Last Mile’ from Awareness to Action”** *Note: The Chinese pun “芯动” (xīn dòng) plays on “心动” (heartbeat/excitement) while incorporating “芯” (chip/silicon), likely referencing technology or innovation. The translation uses “Chip-tivated” to preserve the pun while maintaining readability.*

ShanghaiJune 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On June 10, 2026, L’Oréal grandly debuted at the 4th Shanghai International Carbon Neutrality Technology, Products and Achievements Expo (hereinafter referred to as the “Carbon Neutrality Expo”). That afternoon, a sustainable consumption salon themed “Irresistibly ‘Refill’-Driven” was held at the L’Oréal booth. Co-hosted by L’Oréal China and the Shanghai Consumer Rights Protection Foundation, and co-organized by Shanghai International Exhibition Management Co., Ltd., the salon used refill cores—a key vehicle for sustainable consumption—as a focal point. It brought together multiple industry experts and young influencers to discuss how to transform sustainability from a “feel-good” sentiment into a “daily practice” action.

The salon was moderated by Tang Jiansheng, Chairman of the Shanghai Consumer Rights Protection Foundation. The “I Have Something to Say” camp included Zhao Ping, President of the CCPIT Academy; Yan Jiangying, Doctor of Medicine and Chairwoman of the China Association of Fragrance Flavour and Cosmetic Industries; Zhao Kai, Executive Vice President of the China Association of Circular Economy; and Lan Zhenzhen, President of Public Affairs for L’Oréal North Asia and China. They participated in discussions from industrial and policy perspectives. The “I Have a View to Share” camp featured Wang Yuheng, designer and Antarctic Ambassador; Sun Shuheng, stand-up comedian; Zhang Wei, Editor-in-Chief of 36Kr’s Post-00s Research Institute and Chao Sheng TIDE; and Xiaomanmanxiao, veteran beauty blogger. They contributed insights from real-life experiences and consumer behavior.

As the number one beauty group in China, L’Oréal has always been consumer-centric, continuously meeting consumers’ pursuit of “beauty” while striving to lead sustainable consumption trends. Before the salon officially began, Lan Tingyuan, Director of Sustainable Development for L’Oréal North Asia and China, premiered the report “Irresistibly ‘Refill’-Driven: 2026 Refill Consumption Trend Insights.” The report revealed that while consumers’ willingness to purchase refills and their awareness are growing, there remains a “Say-do Gap” in actual behavior. To directly address the challenges and opportunities highlighted in the report, the salon adopted a format of free-form teaming and impromptu debates, allowing sustainability topics to be discussed and disseminated in a professional yet relaxed atmosphere.

From Good “Refill” Intentions to Real Action: Unpacking the “Last Mile” Challenge from Awareness to Action

Focusing on the pain point of consumers’ inaction revealed by the report, the “I Have a View to Share” camp took the lead, answering the salon’s first question from real-life experiences: Which refill pain point would you prioritize solving?

Xiaomanmanxiao, a veteran beauty blogger with nearly 20 years of experience, identified a subtle pain point from the perspective of a heavy beauty user: “The current ‘buy one, get one free’ promotional model during big sales somewhat undermines the price advantage of refills. Consumers expect sustainable solutions that are both eco-friendly and cost-effective.” In contrast, Sun Shuheng, who is neither a beauty nor refill consumer, chimed in with his daily observations: “Refills are a good thing, but more consumers need to know about them. Some companies are racing ahead in their own sustainable vehicles, but we ordinary consumers haven’t even boarded yet.”

In response to the pain points raised by young influencers from the consumer side, Lan Zhenzhen addressed them from the corporate perspective: “To solve refill pain points, L’Oréal must both provide ‘hardcore products’ that give consumers a sense of security and use widespread communication to turn refills from a ‘niche experiment’ into a ‘daily delight’.” Zhao Kai shared the latest policy trends: “The ‘Ecological and Environmental Code of the People’s Republic of China’ will be promulgated and implemented on August 15. The code dedicates a separate section to developing a circular economy, detailing legal standards for green consumption. From now on, developing a circular economy and green consumption are no longer advocacy choices but legal requirements that must be observed and implemented in our production and daily lives.”

Moderator Tang Jiansheng summarized from a consumer research perspective: “How do we make refills ‘irresistible’? Currently, their penetration rate is still being improved. Consumers now think, ‘Why should I buy refills?’ But once penetration exceeds 50%, the default option flips, and consumers will think, ‘Why wouldn’t I buy refills?'”

To move consumers from intention to action on sustainability, the small entry point of refills will continue to play a solid and unique role.

From “I Have To” to “I Want To”: Sustainable Consumption Needs a Mechanism Foundation and Self-Discipline Warmth

As the topic expanded from refills to broader sustainable consumption, the salon’s second question directly addressed the challenge of responsibility allocation: For sustainable consumption, which is more important—mechanisms or self-discipline?

The “I Have a View to Share” camp unanimously chose “mechanisms.” Wang Yuheng, who has long practiced sustainable living and dedicated himself to sustainability education, stated bluntly that sustainability requires long-termism, while people often focus on immediate convenience. Therefore: “Good mechanisms are like building a bridge, bringing long-term benefits to the present.” Xiaomanmanxiao also agreed that consumers focus on pragmatism, so good mechanisms are needed to guide them toward sustainable decisions. Zhang Wei shared an eco-friendly experience that required both mechanisms and self-discipline, resonating with the audience: “Good mechanisms add a BUFF (boost) to ordinary people’s goodwill and make that BUFF stronger over time.”

On the debate topic, Yan Jiangying offered her interpretation: “Self-discipline isn’t just for individuals; corporate self-discipline also counts. Every major social progress has been driven by passionate individuals and companies taking responsibility and fostering mechanisms.” Zhao Ping similarly emphasized the value of self-discipline: “Mechanisms set the floor, self-discipline sets the ceiling. Without constraints, unsustainable behaviors are hard to eliminate; but how well mechanisms are executed ultimately depends on everyone’s self-discipline.” Lan Zhenzhen summarized based on both sides’ remarks: “Mechanisms are the 60-point baseline, self-discipline is the 100-point passion. L’Oréal uses engaging sustainable content and meaningful communication to inspire consumers to practice sustainability out of interest and love.”

In this round of exchange, while guests seemed to choose sides between mechanisms and self-discipline, they actually formed a clear consensus: Without mechanisms paving the way, self-discipline can’t move forward; without self-discipline responding, mechanisms lose their warmth. How to move consumers from “being asked to do it” to “wanting to do it themselves” is a shared challenge and opportunity for the entire sustainable consumption ecosystem.

From “Lone Warriors” to “Fellow Travelers”: Making Sustainability from a Minority’s Persistence to the Majority’s Daily Routine

On the path to a sustainable future, a persistent debate remains: Should we rely on “strength in numbers” or “the power of role models”? Wang Yuheng, himself a representative of role model power, was the first to state his view: “The river channel is like a role model, and water is like the crowd. Only when there’s a channel can water surge forward. So role models aren’t about creating heroes, but about showing ordinary people the direction.” Zhang Wei also emphasized the guiding role of role models, believing that for sustainability to break out of its niche, there must first be a circle, and the pioneering power of role models can lay the foundation for that. Sun Shuheng, starting from his grandmother’s eco-friendly daily habits, gave a warm response to the question: “She taught and influenced me throughout her life. The role model for sustainable living isn’t far away; it’s in our care for making the most of things and living a good life.”

Zhao Kai, while acknowledging the power of role models, raised a higher requirement: that this power and model must be replicable and scalable. A flash-in-the-pan approach is not acceptable; efforts must aim to create mainstream, practice-tested benchmarks. These discussions inspired Yan Jiangying: “A lone traveler moves fast, but fellow travelers go far. Role models aren’t lone rangers; they should lead society-wide participation. Today, L’Oréal’s booth shows us the power of role models. Now, more cosmetics companies are joining the sustainable development team. I hope the power of role models ultimately returns to ‘fellow travelers go far’.” Zhao Ping gave a resounding summary: “The power of role models is a form of nobility, while strength in numbers is a form of fashion. We need the role models of a few, but even more, we need the participation of the majority.”

After three rounds of intense and exciting exchanges, a clear consensus gradually emerged: Sustainability is a “long-term comprehensive project” requiring multi-party collaboration. Only through the joint efforts of government, businesses, and consumers can sustainability transform from a “niche option” in life to a “default setting.” In the future, L’Oréal will continue to partner with more “Tomorrow Partners,” accumulating small efforts into significant impact. Upholding the commitment of “L’Oréal, for the Future,” it will persistently lead the sustainable consumption transformation, turning every consumer’s inspiration into the driving force for building a sustainable future!