Beiersdorf begins cosmetics production at new factory in Leipzig

03 May 2023 --- Beiersdorf has begun producing the first cosmetic product lines for deodorants, hairsprays and shaving foam of its Nivea, 8x4 and Hidrofugal brands at its new plant in Leipzig, Germany.

The company has invested around €300 million (US$330 million) in the sustainable plant to produce 450 million cosmetic products annually for the European market. The facility is Beiersdorf’s largest global investment in a single location and will be accompanied by a logistics hub on a neighboring property in due course.

“By using cutting-edge production technology that includes fully automated and digitalized processes, we have nearly doubled our productivity level and are producing in the most sustainable way,” says Harald Emberger, executive committee member and corporate senior vice president of supply chain at Beiersdorf. 

The production center is geared toward innovation capability and long-term growth capacity. 

Automation and robotics design
The production facility incorporates a modular, flexible design and is equipped with automated intralogistics systems and robotics to perform filling and packing jobs. Virtual reality is also being used to train employees. 

These features allow the production center to react agilely to new technologies, consumer needs and market developments in future. 

“With our production center in Leipzig, we are creating capacities for long-term and sustainable growth of our brands in Europe and setting standards for the production of cosmetic products,” says Emberger.The new plant can produce millions of cosmetics products for the Nivea, 8x4 and Hidrofugal brands. 

The official factory opening will take place in late summer once the facility has been successfully commissioned.

Striving for complete carbon neutrality
Four production lines will operate this year and a fifth one will be started by 2024. 

Beiersdorf has 14 production locations globally. The company aims to achieve its environmental goals with the new plant set by its sustainability agenda, Care Beyond Skin. 

The plant is geared toward carbon neutrality by using renewable energies and burning biogas for heating. Resources such as heat, wastewater and ethanol will be recovered and treated. 

Last year, Beiersdorf acquired Belgian life-science company S-Biomedic, strengthening its portfolio of acne treatments developed through skin microbiome research. 

The company also opened an innovation center in New Jersey and relocated its headquarters to Connecticut, US, to further its global R&D strategy and presence in North America while developing therapeutic skincare products.

Meanwhile, Beiersdorf and Natracare stressed the importance of regulatory pressures for industry changes and promoting biodegradable and organic solutions when the cosmetics industry came into the spotlight when the European Commission initiated a polluter-pay scheme to ramp up the rules for ambient air, surface and groundwater pollutants and wastewater treatment to protect human and environmental health. 

Edited by Inga de Jong