GHG Emissions, Commercial, Solar  -  October 28, 2024

Estée Lauder Adds Solar, LEED Locations

The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), a cosmetics and skincare company, announced it added LEED-certified locations and solar installations.

The company integrated new sustainability practices across its operations, including completing new LEED-certified locations, adding new solar installations in Belgium and Japan, accelerating efforts to transition 100% of the global corporate fleet to electric by 2030 and expanding ELC’s Responsible Store Design program around the world. 

Since fiscal 2020, Estée Lauder achieved carbon neutrality across its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and sourced 100% renewable electricity globally for its direct operations each year.

Emissions for Scope 1 and 2  increased due to the use of temporary generators at the company’s largest and recently completed manufacturing facility in Japan while Estee Lauder waits for the completion of an electrical substation by the local utility. 

The company realized an emissions reduction from fiscal 2023 for its corporate vehicle fleet as the electric vehicle transition continues.

For Scope 3, the largest contributors to the emissions decrease over fiscal 2023 were the reduction in usage of air freight and reduction in purchased goods and services. Small increases were observed in employee commuting and business travel as these activities continue a post-pandemic rebound.

The company also achieved progress via scheduled transitions in mature EV markets within Europe, with additional transitions planned across developing markets global including UK and NOAM in fiscal year 2025. 

In addition, ELC published its 2024 Progress Update to its Climate Transition Plan, highlighting its efforts to address climate change. This update outlines ELC’s latest strategic actions, challenges and progress aimed at reducing total GHG emissions across its value chain. 

"Our environmental and social efforts are integral — enabling innovation, value creation, and operational efficiency, while engaging with current and future talent," said Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Estée Lauder Companies, in a statement. “In the past year, we continued our efforts, taking important steps to align our practices with our goals and seek opportunities to further embed these principles into how we do business."