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The Estée Lauder Companies, parent of brands including Clinique, M·A·C and La Mer, released its fiscal 2026 Social Impact and Sustainability Report on Oct. 28, covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The company says it has already exceeded two of its 2030 commitments — cutting water withdrawal at its plants and waste at its manufacturing and distribution sites — and is making progress on emissions, packaging and philanthropy aimed at 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 featuring a clear objective
| 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| Water withdrawn at owned plants (vs. 2019) | Cut at least 50% by 2030 | −55% | Exceeded |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 company adds that it sent zero industrial waste to landfill across its manufacturing, distribution and innovation sites. The water baseline was recalculated this year to reflect the goal’s expanded scope, and palm oil is measured by calendar year and excludes ingredients the company does not buy directly.
Emissions and energy
Estée Lauder reports a 44% cut in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions — those from its own operations and purchased energy — and a nearly 23% cut in Scope 3 emissions from its value chain, both against a fiscal 2018 baseline. Both baselines were recalculated in 2026 using revised data and methodology, which makes direct comparison with earlier reports harder.
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
67% of packaging is engineered for recyclability, 21% of packaging components stem from post-consumer recycled content, and 94% of paper packaging fibers originate from responsible sources certified by FSC, SFI or PEFC. These metrics exclude DECIEM and Dr.Jart+ in part.
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.
On workplace safety, the company reports more than 350 site improvement projects and says it met its target for total recordable incident rate. Among its programs for women and girls it lists M·A·C’s VIVA GLAM; the Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Fund, which has trained more than 600 leaders from over 80 countries; and BEAUTY&YOU India, which supports women entrepreneurs.
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.
