Estee Lauder

Is Estée Lauder an ethical brand?

Estée Lauder, a skincare brand, receives a poor ethical rating from The Good Shopping Guide. Unfortunately, as shown by its low ranking in our Ethical Skincare 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.

In which categories does Estée Lauder receive a high rating?

Estée Lauder receives a high rating in the Nuclear Power, Fossil Fuels and Armaments categories, as neither the brand nor its parent company directly profit from these unethical industries.

In which categories does Estée Lauder receive a low rating?

Unfortunately, Estée Lauder receives a low rating in the Public Record Criticisms criterion, as the company has been linked to numerous unethical practices, such as human rights abuses.

According to accounts from women working on palm oil farms in Malaysia and Indonesia, workers were subjected to severe employment conditions, including physical and sexual assault and exposure to dangerous chemicals. Women who had been using hazardous pesticides on a plantation for years suffered from fevers, coughs, and nosebleeds while working without any safety gear. These women cannot afford to visit a doctor because their daily income is only an average of $2. Estée Lauder was named as one of the suppliers linked to this case through its palm oil supply chain.

Click here if you would like to read more about this case, though please be aware it contains some very upsetting details.

How can Estée Lauder improve its ethical rating?

The Good Shopping Guide ranks Estée Lauder ethical policies and practices using 15 standards. Estée Lauder’s role in the unethical production of palm oil is just one example of the numerous ethical issues the company must address to attain a higher ethical rating in our research.