Personal care
The Estée Lauder Companies sells prestige skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care. In fiscal 2025, 72% of its packaging was recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled or recoverable.
| Segment | Net sales | Year |
|---|---|---|
| USD 4,463 million2 | 2026 | |
| USD 3,794 million2 | 2026 | |
| USD 3,746 million2 | 2026 | |
| USD 3,058 million2 | 2026 |
Formats and materials the company itself reports using, in its own reporting. No pack specifications, volumes or supplier names beyond what it has published.
| Format | Material | What the company reports |
|---|---|---|
| All | Mixed | 72% of packaging recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled or recoverable (fiscal 2025)4 |
| All | PCR materials | 20% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material in packaging (fiscal 2025)4 |
| Plastic packaging | Plastic | Virgin petroleum content of plastic packaging at 79% (fiscal 2025)4 |
| Carton | Paperboard | 98% of forest-based fibre cartons FSC certified (fiscal 2025)4 |
| Sachet | Paper-based | Aveda paper-based, fully recyclable sample sachets reduce plastic by over 80% versus the prior 10 ml sample tube4 |
| Polybag | Seaweed-based | TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Accelerator focused on seaweed-based alternatives to thin-film plastic polybags4 |
| Bottle, jar | Glass | Glass packaging: decoration guidance from a cosmetic glass recycling study with Strategic Materials; findings to be built into packaging sustainability guidelines and shared with glass packaging suppliers7 |
Reporting scope: Product packaging is any item used for containment, protection, handling and presentation of products, delivered to distribution centres and on the bill of materials. Paper packaging includes carriers, cartons, dividers, liners, shippers and sleeves, but excludes labels, set boxes, tissue and leaflets. Fiscal 2025 covers 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.4
No packaging supplier relationship is publicly announced in the sources reviewed. Strategic Materials, Inc. is a recycling partner on a glass study, not a named packaging supplier.
Targets and progress are taken from each company's own published reports, with a quote and a link on its page. Status shows met or missed only where the company has reported the result. No contacts, purchase volumes, supplier relationships or pack specifications are listed.
Latest reported: 72% (FY2025)
From the source“By 2025, 75-100% of our packaging will be recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled, or recoverable”
The Estée Lauder Companies – Fiscal 2025 Social Impact & Sustainability Report
Latest reported: 20% (FY2025)
From the source“By 2025, increase the amount of post-consumer recycled (PCR) material in our packaging to 25% or more.”
The Estée Lauder Companies – Fiscal 2025 Social Impact & Sustainability Report
Latest reported: 79% (FY2025)
From the source“By 2030, reduce the amount of virgin petroleum content in our plastic packaging to 50% or less.”
The Estée Lauder Companies – Fiscal 2025 Social Impact & Sustainability Report
Latest reported: 98% (FY2025)
From the source“over 98% of our forest-based fiber cartons now being certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)”
The Estée Lauder Companies – FY2025 report press release · Oct 2025
Latest reported: Not reported (new goal)
From the source“By 2030, we will transition at least 70% of our packaging to be recyclable.”
The Estée Lauder Companies – Fiscal 2025 Social Impact & Sustainability Report
Latest reported: 20% (FY2025)
From the source“By 2030, we will use at least 25% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material in our packaging.”
The Estée Lauder Companies – Fiscal 2025 Social Impact & Sustainability Report
Latest reported: Baseline year (fiscal 2025)
From the source“By 2030, we will increase our refillable packaging by at least 50%, from a fiscal 2025 baseline.”
The Estée Lauder Companies – Fiscal 2025 Social Impact & Sustainability Report · Oct 2025
Latest reported: No figure yet for this measure; 98% of forest-based fiber cartons FSC certified (fiscal 2025, earlier measure)
From the source“By 2030, we will use at least 95% responsibly sourced paper products in our paper packaging.”
The Estée Lauder Companies – Fiscal 2025 Social Impact & Sustainability Report · Oct 2025
Latest reported: 14.2% reduction (fiscal 2025)
From the source“reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services by 60% per unit of revenue by 2030”
The Estée Lauder Companies – Fiscal 2025 Social Impact & Sustainability Report · Oct 2025
Every packaging and supply-chain commitment the company has published, with its baseline and the latest progress it reports. Status says met or missed only where the company states the result.
| Commitment | By | Baseline | Latest reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 goals75% to 100% of packaging recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled or recoverable by 20254 | 2025 | – | 72% (2025) | Missed |
| 2025 goals25% or more post-consumer recycled material in packaging by 20254 | 2025 | – | 20% (2025) | Missed |
| 2025 goals100% of forest-based fibre cartons FSC certified by 20254 | 2025 | – | 98% (2025) | Missed |
| 2030 goalsReduce virgin petroleum content in plastic packaging to 50% or less (at least 50% non-virgin petroleum content)4 | 2030 | – | 79% virgin petroleum content (2025) | In progress |
| 2030 goalsAt least 70% of packaging recyclable4 | 2030 | – | Not reported for the new definition (2025) | In progress |
| 2030 goalsIncrease refillable packaging by at least 50% from a fiscal 2025 baseline4 | 2030 | Fiscal 2025 | Baseline year (2025) | In progress |
| 2030 goalsAt least 25% PCR material in packaging4 | 2030 | – | 20% (2025) | In progress |
| 2030 goalsAt least 95% responsibly sourced paper in paper packaging4 | 2030 | – | 98% of forest-based fibre cartons FSC certified (2025 measure) | In progress |
| 2030 goalsReduce Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services, upstream transportation and distribution, and business travel by 60% per unit of revenue by 2030 from a 2018 baseline4Purchased goods include packaging components, so packaging suppliers sit inside this target (SPI note) | 2030 | 2018 | 14.2% reduction (2025) | In progress |
FY2026 10-K: the company buys packaging components made to its design specifications and says its packaging efforts include recyclable and recycled content.1
Fiscal 2025 Social Impact and Sustainability Report: 2025 packaging goals closed out (72% 5Rs, 20% PCR, 98% FSC cartons) and new 2030 goals set (at least 70% recyclable, refillable packaging up at least 50% from fiscal 2025, at least 25% PCR, at least 95% responsibly sourced paper, at least 50% non-virgin petroleum content in plastic).4
ELC and Strategic Materials published cosmetic glass recycling case study findings: decorations allowing 5% or more light transmission are more likely to be sorted as glass; ELC to train designers and glass packaging suppliers and update its guidelines.7
SPI analysis Our reading of the sourced facts above. Not company-reported, not legal advice.
Basis: Presence is taken from subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.13 and the 10-K statement that products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories1. Products are prestige cosmetics in glass, plastic, metal and paperboard packaging; beverage deposit and food-contact rules do not apply. Rule IDs are from the SPI Regulation Tracker. Applicability is SPI's reading of the rule against the reported product and packaging mix; it is not legal advice and does not state the company's actual liability.
| Jurisdiction | Rules in the Regulation Tracker |
|---|---|
| European UnionSubsidiaries in most Member States, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland3 |
Cosmetics packaging falls under PPWR recyclability, labelling, empty-space limits for e-commerce and grouped packaging, and recycled content for plastic. PR-EU-008 hospitality miniatures may be relevant if amenities are supplied to hotels; not confirmed. |
| GermanyEstee Lauder Companies GmbH3 | |
| FranceELCO S.A.S.3 | |
| SpainEstee Lauder, S.A.3 | |
| AustriaEstee Lauder Cosmetics GmbH3 | Austrian rule in the tracker is beverage deposit only. |
| IrelandNo Irish subsidiary in Exhibit 21.13; Ireland is part of the EUKEM region2 | Tracker rule is beverage deposit only. |
| PortugalSocosmet – Sociedade de Cosmetica, LDA3 | Tracker rule is beverage deposit only. |
| PolandEstee Lauder (Poland) Sp. z o.o3 | Tracker rule is beverage deposit only. |
| United KingdomEstee Lauder Cosmetics Limited3 |
Plastic Packaging Tax applies to plastic components under 30% recycled content. |
| United StatesHeadquarters; Estee Lauder Inc. (s1, s3) |
|
| CanadaEstee Lauder Cosmetics Ltd.3 | |
| IndiaELCA Cosmetics Private Limited3 | |
| ChinaELCA Cosmetics (Shanghai) Limited3; Mainland China net sales USD 3,058 million2 | GB 23350-2021 excessive packaging standard covers cosmetics directly (layers, void ratio, cost ratio), relevant to gift sets and premium cartons. |
| JapanELC Japan G.K.3 | |
| AustraliaEstee Lauder Pty. Limited3 | Proposed national EPR; PR-AU-001 targets expired. |
| New ZealandEstee Lauder Limited3 | Tracker rules are single-use plastic item phase-outs; no direct match found. |
| VietnamEstee Lauder (Vietnam) LLC3 | |
| PhilippinesELC Beauty, Inc.3 | |
| IndonesiaPT ELC Beauty Indonesia3 | |
| ChileCELA Cosmeticos S.A.3 | |
| ColombiaELCA Cosméticos Colombia SAS3 | |
| BrazilELCA Cosmeticos Ltda.3 | |
| KenyaNo Kenyan subsidiary in Exhibit 21.13; sales not confirmed | PR-KE-002 would apply if products are placed on the Kenyan market. |
| South AfricaEstee Lauder Companies (Pty.) Ltd.3 | |
| United Arab EmiratesEstee Lauder Middle East FZE3 | Dubai rule targets single-use products (bags, cups, cutlery); no direct match. |
Plastic taxes: Plastic taxes in the tracker that can apply: UK Plastic Packaging Tax (PR-GB-001) and Spain's non-reusable plastic packaging tax (PR-ES-001), on plastic jars, bottles, closures and components with low recycled content. Glass and paperboard are outside these taxes but within EPR fee schemes. The EU plastic own resource (PR-EU-017) is paid by Member States.
SPI analysis Our reading of the sourced facts above. Not company-reported, not legal advice.
Estée Lauder missed all of its 2025 packaging goals (72% against 75% for the 5Rs, 20% against 25% PCR, 98% against 100% FSC cartons) and has reset them for 2030 with a narrower recyclability measure (at least 70% recyclable), at least 25% PCR, refillable packaging up at least 50% from fiscal 2025, at least 95% responsibly sourced paper and virgin petroleum in plastic down from 79% to 50% or less. The largest gap is plastic: cutting virgin content by about 29 points in five years points to demand for PCR and other non-virgin resins in jars, bottles, closures and components that still meet prestige standards. Refill systems for skin care and fragrance, paper-based sampling formats and recyclable glass decoration that passes optical sorting are other clear signals; the company says it will train its glass suppliers on the decoration criteria. Packaging components are bought to the company's own design specifications, and the Scope 3 purchased goods target (60% per unit of revenue by 2030) adds carbon data requests. China's excessive packaging standard for cosmetics affects gift sets and secondary cartons. No supplier relationship has been publicly announced, so this describes where demand is likely, not who supplies it.
What the sources reviewed do not show, or what we could not confirm. Know something we have missed? Tell the SPI team and we will check it.
Targets in the register above link to their own source. Facts are summarised in the SPI team's words; quotes are marked.
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