Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does The Estée Lauder Companies score?

ELC discloses Scope 1 (~27,800 tCO2e) and Scope 2 market-based (~54,800 tCO2e) emissions with multi-year tracking from 2018 baseline. FY2025 shows 37.6% reduction. CDP Climate Change A-List recognition for 2024 confirms third-party verification of granular, source-level disclosure.

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does The Estée Lauder Companies score?

ELC quantifies ~2.23 Mt CO2e Scope 3 (47% from purchased goods/services), joined CDP Supply Chain 2021 and Supplier LoCT 2022. Nine climate workstreams across value chain. Critical weakness: only 3 of 15 Scope 3 categories covered under SBTi target, leaving major emission sources unmapped.

Emissions Trajectory: How does The Estée Lauder Companies score?

Scope 1&2 absolute emissions fell 37.6% from 2018 baseline, on track for 2030 target. However, total GHG across all scopes rose 10% from 2018 baseline as of FY2023. Scope 3 target is intensity-based per unit revenue, not absolute, masking rising total value chain emissions.

Energy Source: How does The Estée Lauder Companies score?

ELC sourced 100% renewable electricity for direct operations every year since FY2020 through FY2025. Portfolio includes 22MW wind VPPA (Ponderosa, Oklahoma), 5MW+ on-site solar, and RECs/EACs. RE100 and EV100 member targeting fleet electrification by 2030.

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does The Estée Lauder Companies score?

ELC maintains formal No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation policy and achieved 97% RSPO-certified sustainable palm in FY2025. BioTech Hub developing bio-based alternatives. Missing: no TNFD-aligned disclosure, no quantified nature footprint. BBC investigation linked jasmine supply to child labour in Egypt, raising serious supply chain oversight issues.

Resource Use & Waste: How does The Estée Lauder Companies score?

ELC diverted 99.8% industrial waste from landfill in FY2024, maintaining zero-waste commitment. 71% of packaging recyclable/refillable/reusable, targeting 75–100% by end 2025. 20% post-consumer recycled material achieved. Sector-level challenge: beauty inherently generates significant single-use packaging waste at consumer level.

Water Impact: How does The Estée Lauder Companies score?

ELC surpassed 2025 target with 41% water withdrawal reduction from FY2019 baseline at manufacturing sites. CDP Water Security A- score for 2024. Oevel Belgium facility increased recycling from 59% to 85%, reusing 29M litres annually. New 2030 target set for 40% consistent reduction with expanded scope.

Targets & Commitments: How does The Estée Lauder Companies score?

SBTi near-term targets since 2020: 50% absolute Scope 1&2 reduction by 2030 (1.5°C aligned). Critical weakness: Scope 3 target is 60% intensity-based per unit revenue, not absolute, despite representing 95%+ of total emissions. Carbon neutrality relies partly on unverified forestry offsets. No net-zero validated target.

Transparency & Accountability: How does The Estée Lauder Companies score?

ELC publishes annual Social Impact and Sustainability Reports plus Climate Transition Plan. Chief Sustainability Officer appointed 2023. Sustainability bonuses for executives/non-executives. CDP Climate A-List and Water A- recognition 2024. Ranked #5 on 3BL 100 Best Corporate Citizens, #1 in industry sector. No B Corp certification.

Controversies & Red Flags: How does The Estée Lauder Companies score?

January 2026: ELC fined CAD$750,000 by Ontario court for PFAS violations in eyeliner (forever chemicals), pleaded guilty, added to Canada's Environmental Offenders Registry. BBC investigation linked jasmine supply chain to child labour in Egypt. ELC member of US Chamber of Commerce, which opposes climate policies.

The Estée Lauder Companies Sustainability Score: 42/100

Recently scored: Next plc, Target Corporation, Rapanui Clothing, SHEIN

515 companies scored·27 score updates this week

The Estée Lauder Companies·FMCG / Consumer Goods·New York City, United States·Founded 1946·Last verified 31 May 2026

out of 100

Below expectationsPending Review

Estée Lauder has locked in strong operational emissions reductions (37.6% since 2018) and renewable energy, but Scope 3 emissions—95% of its footprint—rose 10% absolute while targets remain intensity-based. A 2026 PFAS fine in Canada, child labour allegations in jasmine supply chains, and reliance on offsets over real reduction undermine credibility.

No challenges currently filed

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale

Industry base impact

FMCG / Consumer Goods sector ceiling.

30 / 100

Performance score

Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.

60 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 30) + (0.7 × 60) = 51.0

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.82

Final score

Rounded. Below expectations.

42 / 100

The ten questions

Where The Estée Lauder Companies is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Energy Source (8/10, 8/10). Weakest on Controversies & Red Flags and Emissions Trajectory (4/10, 4/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

17 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

11 of 17 sources are third-party verified or public record.

[1]Third-party verified

Estée Lauder Organizations Profile

Ongoing

Q1Q2

Every score shows its working.

Where The Estée Lauder Companies is strong, and where it isn't.

Every document used, listed.

Where The Estée Lauder Companies sits among fmcg / consumer goods peers.

The Estée Lauder Companies's score over time.

This score is not currently being contested.

Related companies worth a look.

We'll let you know when the score moves.

Which companies moved this week, and why.