The Estée Lauder Companies sustainability score: 42/100
Estée Lauder Companies is a New York-based multinational cosmetics and skincare manufacturer founded in 1946. Operating brands including MAC, Clinique, and La Mer across 150+ countries, it generated $17.7B revenue in FY2022.
More about The Estée Lauder Companies
A major player in premium beauty, the company faces sector-wide pressures on packaging waste and supply chain transparency.
Founded 1946Head office New York City, United StatesStaff ~62,000Revenue $17.7B (FY2022)Website ↗
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.
The Estée Lauder Companies scores 42/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Companies can never pay for anything about their own score. Last verified May 2026.
That places The Estée Lauder Companies joint 357th of 934 companies scored, and joint 15th of 45 in FMCG / Consumer Goods.
What is The Estée Lauder Companies doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Energy Source (8/10, 8/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Controversies & Red Flags (4/10, 4/10).
Where The Estée Lauder Companies lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
- Emissions from its own operations8/10No verified figures published with their method and a falling trend.
- Emissions from its supply chain6/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling4/10No evidence of a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
- How clean its energy is8/10Its own operations aren't shown to run on 100% renewable energy.
- Its effect on nature5/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste6/10No verified figures for reuse and recycling across the business.
- Its effect on water7/10No water stewardship programme or verified fall in water use.
- Its climate targets5/10Its targets aren't science-based or committed to the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports7/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
- Its record on controversies4/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is The Estée Lauder Companies's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is The Estée Lauder Companies's score based on?
17 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
35% of them were published by The Estée Lauder Companies itself; the rest come from independent sources.
Scored on 4 April 2026 under an earlier version of our method. We're re-checking it under the current method.
11 of 17 sources are independent of the company.
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
Is this your company? Claim this profile (free)
Use this score in tenders
Send the link, or the one-page score sheet. It links back to this page and every source. Free.
Open the score sheet →Send new evidence, free
Scored low because little is published? Publish what you do and send us the link, free. If it holds up, your score changes, and the change is logged on your page.
How to send evidence →Put your score on your website, free
It shows the current score and links to this page, so it changes when the score does.
Track this score
Bidding for a public contract? Check if you need a Carbon Reduction Plan, free →
Want your own page like this?
Free, independent, every source shown. Send it to any buyer who asks about your sustainability.
How does The Estée Lauder Companies compare with other fmcg / consumer goods companies?
Where The Estée Lauder Companies sits among fmcg / consumer goods peers.
Among the 45 major fmcg / consumer goods brands we've scored, The Estée Lauder Companies is tied =15th of 45, with 1 other.
Who scores higher in FMCG / Consumer Goods?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above The Estée Lauder Companies.
Chanel has cut absolute emissions 19% since 2021 and secured SBTi validation, but Scope 3 remains 98% of the footprint with weak supply-chain transparency.
See the breakdown →Imperial Brands discloses substantial carbon reductions in operations (72% S1+S2) and has SBTi-validated net-zero targets, but structural harms persist: tobacco farming drives deforestation and water contamination, 4.5 trillion cigarette butts remain unaddressed, and the company actively lobbies against tobacco regulation while greenwashing via ESG awards.
See the breakdown →Natracare reports its first comprehensive carbon footprint (2,664 tCO2e, 99% Scope 3) but the Scope 3 calculation is internally inconsistent, missing end-of-life and downstream transport.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
One email, every Sunday. Score changes, new research, the stories behind the numbers. Free.
We'll send one email to confirm. No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
Checking a company?
Search free →Asked to prove you're sustainable?
Get your business scored, free →Been scored?
Find your page and claim it, free →Scores are free. Companies can never pay for anything about their own score.