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The Estée Lauder Companies, owner of labels such as Clinique, M·A·C and La Mer, published its fiscal 2026 Social Impact and Sustainability Report on Oct. 28, encompassing the timeframe from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. According to the corporation, it has successfully surpassed a pair of its 2030 targets—specifically, lowering water intake across its facilities and minimizing refuse at its production and logistics hubs—while continuing to advance regarding carbon output, product packaging, and philanthropic initiatives focused on women and girls.
The report tracks progress against a set of social and environmental goals for 2030 across the company’s brands, operations and value chain, according to the company’s announcement.
Goals with an explicit target
| Commitment | Target | Fiscal 2026 result | Status, per the company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water withdrawn at owned plants (vs. 2019) | Cut at least 50% by 2030 | −55% | Exceeded |
| Waste at manufacturing and distribution sites (vs. 2023) | Cut at least 15% by 2030 | −33% | Exceeded |
| RSPO-certified palm oil | At least 95% every year | 97% | Met |
| Philanthropy for women and girls | $50 million by 2030 | More than $16 million | In progress |
| Employee giving and volunteering | $10 million by 2030 | $2.5 million | In progress |
The enterprise adds that no industrial waste was sent to landfills from its production, distribution, and innovation facilities. Furthermore, the water baseline was recalculated this current year to account for the broader reach of the target, while palm oil is tracked on a calendar-year basis and leaves out components that the firm does not procure directly.
Emissions and energy
Estée Lauder reports a 44% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions — covering direct operations and acquired energy — alongside a nearly 23% drop in value-chain Scope 3 emissions, measured against a fiscal 2018 baseline. Both baselines underwent recalculation in 2026 utilizing updated methodologies and data, rendering direct comparisons with previous disclosures more challenging.
The company says renewable electricity covered 100% of its direct operations for the seventh year in a row, through a mix of on-site generation, utility contracts, energy attribute certificates and a virtual power purchase agreement.
Packaging and products
Sixty-seven percent of packaging is designed to be recyclable, 21% of packaging material is post-consumer recycled, and 94% of the fiber in paper packaging is responsibly sourced and certified by FSC, SFI or PEFC. These figures partially exclude DECIEM and Dr.Jart+.
The report introduces an additional target: evaluating every single proprietary formulation developed by the organization through life-cycle analysis and eco-design standards by the year 2030. According to the enterprise, this instrument adheres to ISO 14040 and 14044 specifications alongside the European Union’s Product Environmental Footprint methodology. Furthermore, the firm notes that multiple brands achieved GreenCircle certification, though they remained unnamed.
Health, safety and philanthropy
The organization’s Breast Cancer Campaign alongside its philanthropic foundation has channeled over $167 million toward investigation, educational programs, and healthcare support, which encompasses upwards of $131 million dedicated to studies via the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Regarding workplace safety, the organization documents over 350 facility enhancement initiatives and notes that its objective for total recordable incident frequency was successfully achieved. Its initiatives dedicated to women and girls comprise M·A·C’s VIVA GLAM; the Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Fund, which has provided training to upwards of 600 directors across more than 80 nations; and BEAUTY&YOU India, a project empowering female founders.
President and CEO Stéphane de La Faverie attributed the performance to the company’s legacy of eight decades alongside its dedication to women, environmental preservation, and breast cancer awareness. Nancy Mahon, the Chief Sustainability Officer, noted that the objective involves translating these insights into actionable product creation and clearer communication with buyers.
