Estee Lauder

Is Estée Lauder an ethical brand?

Estée Lauder Companies Inc., which owns a number of subsidiary brands, including Estée Lauder, receives a subpar ethical grade from The Good Shopping Guide. Unfortunately, as shown by its poor Good Shopping Guide Ethical rating in our Ethical Make Up Ratings Table, this brand currently falls short of our core ethical standards. Estée Lauder must make a number of changes before being qualified for our Ethical Accreditation.

About Estée Lauder

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., also referred to as ESTÉE LAUDER, is a multinational American cosmetics company with its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It produces and markets cosmetics such as makeup, skincare, fragrances, and hair care products. The company has a broad portfolio of brands that are sold all over the world through retail and internet platforms.

When Estée Lauder and her husband Joseph started making cosmetics in New York City in 1946, the firm was founded.

As the corporation evolved from a family-owned enterprise to a publicly traded, family-controlled organisation in the 1990s, brand acquisitions and distribution deals helped fuel its spectacular growth.

The Estée Lauder Companies announced on August 20, 2020, a reduction in its employment of between 1,500 and 2,000 people worldwide, or about 3% of all employees, in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. Support staff and shop employees comprised the majority of the reductions. Additionally, the firm announced that it would focus more on digital operations and close 10 to 15% of its physical locations as well as in-store beauty counters.

In which categories does Estée Lauder score poorly?

Estée Lauder is not vegan and receives a bottom rating in the Vegetarian/Vegan Verified category. In fact, across the whole parent company’s portfolio, no brand obtains a good Good Shopping Guide rating in this research category since none manufactures or markets any vegan or vegetarian items; cosmetics made by Estée Lauder contain substances like lanolin, a waxy material made by sheep, and so are unsuitable for vegans. (There is also no way of knowing if these animal products have been produced and obtained ethically!)

Estée Lauder also has a poor Animal Welfare Policy and is not cruelty-free, resulting in a bottom rating for Animal Welfare.

Ethical consumers concerned about animal welfare may want to avoid Estée Lauder and its subsidiary brands to avoid investing in or donating to animal experimentation.

In what areas does Estée Lauder perform well ethically?

Estée Lauder was awarded a top rating in the Environmental Report category, due to its latest sustainability report which demonstrates a commitment to improving its environmental record. It also receives a top rating in the Nuclear, Fossil Fuels and Armaments categories, due to its lack of involvement in these industries.