Estée Lauder Fiscal 2021 Social Impact and Sustainability Report
Estée Lauder is the only company focused solely on prestige makeup, skin care, fragrance, and hair care. The Estée Lauder Companies encompasses a diverse portfolio of more than 25 brands, with products sold in approximately 150 countries and territories. Celebrating their 75th anniversary in 2021, the company attributes its success not only to business strategy, but in a deep understanding of their core values, uncompromising ethics and integrity, and fearless persistence. Their fiscal year 2021 report provides information about the social impact and sustainability activities.
The Estée Lauder Companies was named to the CDP Climate A List in 2020 with the highest score of A, a distinction reached by only the top 5% of the more than 5,800 companies scored.
As of fiscal year 2021, 59% of their packaging is recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled, or recoverable. By 2025, the goal is to attain 75-100%.
In fiscal 2021, The Estée Lauder Companies achieved their 2025 PCR goal years ahead of schedule, reaching 15% PCR material in packaging (a 73% increase for the year). They have since established a new, more ambitious target to increase the amount of PCR material in packaging to 25% or more by 2025.
The Estée Lauder Companies set a new goal to reduce the amount of virgin petroleum plastic in their packaging to 50% or less by 2030.
For the second year in a row, the company achieved Net Zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and sourced 100% renewable electricity globally for their direct operations.
In fiscal 2021, they achieved zero industrial waste-to-landfill for 100% of their global manufacturing, distribution, and innovation sites for a second year in a row.
The company’s largest renewable energy agreement to date — a 22 MW Virtual Power Purchase Agreement for a wind farm in Oklahoma — became fully operational, generating enough clean, renewable energy to cover their entire North America operations.
During the fiscal year, they generated more than 5,000 MWh of solar energy, which is equivalent to the amount of carbon sequestered by 4,300 acres of U.S. forests in one year.
The company was recognized in the 2021 Enterprising Leader Award category and was recognized for their environmental performance across their North American operations and for differentiating within the beauty industry in regard to renewable energy usage.
The company has a goal to have all brands publish key ingredient glossaries by the end of calendar year 2025. In fiscal 2021, an additional seven brands in their portfolio—Estée Lauder, M·A·C, Bobbi Brown, Bumble and bumble, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GlamGlow, and Smashbox—published their own online glossaries.
The Estée Lauder Companies has an innovative green chemistry program that is now integrated into their product development process, giving them visibility into the green chemistry profile of new product launches.
The company has developed green building standards for their spaces, which include retail, office, manufacturing, distribution and warehouse, and research and development (R&D) sites. In fiscal 2021, they achieved LEED Certification at two of their New York City offices.
The Estée Lauder Companies launched a Beauty Inspired, Values Driven Interactive Learning Guide to provide employees with access to information on the Company’s social impact and sustainability programs, as well as meaningful ways to get involved.
59%
reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions
2
New York City offices achieved LEED Certification
Our responsibility is clear: to act on these values with even more intensity and intention, and to accelerate our commitment to help protect the planet and the health and well-being of our employees, consumers, and the communities in which we live, work, and source.
Fabrizio Freda
President and Chief Executive Officer, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc
The Estée Lauder Companies has a comprehensive set of sustainability initiatives that aim to minimize environmental impacts by: setting targets to reduce direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions, implementing more sustainable building practices, improving water efficiency across operations, innovating sustainable packaging and materials, and sending zero industrial waste-to-landfill at their global manufacturing, distribution, and innovation sites.
They aspire to lead the prestige beauty industry in developing more responsible packaging solutions for their consumers and to help drive a circular plastic economy — all while maintaining their reputation of luxury and excellence. The Estée Lauder Companies is a leader in sustainable practices and standards, and when a goal is met, they quickly set another, more ambitious one to drive more positive impact.
59%
of packaging is recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled, or recoverable
The work of social impact and sustainability only succeeds when employees lead the way as ambassadors and agents of change.
Nancy Mahon
Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
A Momentum, LLC Company
Get the best content and best stories
in your inbox every day!
We'll never share your information