Top 10: Low-Emission Cosmetics Companies
If you're anything like me, you get to January and suddenly see an influx of adverts for forgotten Christmas wish-list items.
With that in mind, here's a curated list of emission-conscious cosmetics manufacturers to consider for next year, selected based on sustainability achievements, net-zero targets and revenue size.
Sustainability in cosmetics is crucial as it reduces environmental impact, conserves resources and meets growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products. These brands are leading the charge in sustainable packaging, ethical ingredient sourcing and carbon footprint reduction, making them worthy additions to your eco-conscious beauty routine.
10. Tropic
Founded: 2011
Employees: >500
CEO: Susie Ma
Tropic reduced its virgin plastic usage by two-thirds across its skincare line in 2022, implementing recyclable and refillable packaging, including INNERBOTTLE technology.
This saved five tonnes of virgin plastic monthly. The brand also raised more than £100,000 (US$124,478) for the Reef Restoration Foundation, planted 7,000 climate-resilient trees in Hampshire and maintained CarbonNeutral accreditation for the fifth consecutive year.
9. Origins
Founded: 1990
Employees: 10,000+
Global Brand President: Amber Garrison
“We’ve always believed that it is important to live in harmony with nature and make choices with the planet in mind,” says Amber.
“As a brand that has drawn on the power of nature for more than 30 years, we feel it is our responsibility to share this mission with others and galvanise communities to nurture our environment so that we can all enjoy it for generations to come.”
Origins has planted more than 2.3 million trees globally since 2009 and expanded greening efforts to the UK. It pioneered the beauty industry's first recycling programme for cosmetic packaging, accepting containers from any brand.
Origins' packaging is made from 80% Forest Stewardship Council certified paperboard and 50% post-consumer recycled fibre, produced using renewable energy sources.
8. L'Occitane
Founded: 1976
Employees: 6,500+
Chief Sustainability Officer: Raphaëlle Archambeaud-Sicot
We'll soon see if L'Occitane has achieved its ambitious 2025 goals, including having all direct suppliers earn an Ecovadis rating of 64 or above, tracing 90% of raw materials to their country of origin and using 80% plant-based ingredients with a positive approach to biodiversity.
It also aims for 100% renewable energy usage and water recycling in French factories. By 2030, L'Occitane targets a 46% reduction in Scope 1 emissions and a 55% reduction in Scope 3 emissions per unit of value added.
7. Estée Lauder
Founded: 1946
Employees: 62,000
Chief Sustainability Officer: Nancy Mahon
Estée Lauder achieved net-zero carbon emissions and 100% renewable electricity globally for direct business operations in 2020.
The brand has set science-based emissions reduction targets and installed solar arrays at manufacturing and R&D facilities, while an agreement for 22 megawatts of wind power covers more than 50% of their global electricity footprint.
Estée Lauder also offsets carbon emissions from shipping for UK Home Delivery orders.
6. L'Oréal
Founded: 1909
Employees: 86,000
Chief Sustainability Officer: Ezgi Barcenas
In 2020, L'Oréal launched the "L'Oréal for the Future" programme, focusing on transforming business activities, empowering its ecosystem and addressing environmental and social challenges.
By 2023, CO2 emissions from operated sites decreased by 74% compared to 2019, while production increased by 12%.
L'Oréal also achieved 91% renewable energy usage for operated sites and has received an "A" score in all three CDP rankings for eight consecutive years.
5. Burt's Bees
Founded: 1984
Employees: >500
Senior Director of Sustainability: Paula Alexander
Burt's Bees has partnered with RePurpose Global to prevent plastic leakage into oceans by developing recycling infrastructure within 100 kilometres of coastlines in India and Ghana.
The initiative aims to eliminate more than 1.5 million pounds of plastic waste by the end of 2024.
Since 2015, Burt's Bees has been Carbon Neutral Certified, investing in projects to offset its carbon emissions.
4. The Body Shop
Founded: 1976
Employees: 10,000
CEO: Charles Denton
The Body Shop, founded on social and environmental justice principles, is committed to being ethical, sustainable, inclusive and inspiring.
It has relaunched its product refill scheme and, by 2023, had refill stations in 720 of its stores globally.
The Body Shop aims for 100% of their packaging to be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.
3. Lush
Founded: 1995
Employees: 12,000
CEO: Mark Constantine
Lush aims to be carbon positive and has invested in 6,000 hectares of degraded forest in Peru.
Its biggest climate impact comes from goods and people movement (68% of total). Where possible, 100% of its electricity and gas comes from Ecotricity.
Lush's goal is to remove all fossil fuel use from direct operations by 2030 and achieve a net positive supply web. More than 70% of its range is self-preserving and it has saved 450,000 litres of water annually through shampoo bar sales.
2. REN Clean Skincare
Founded: 2000
Employees: >200
REN Clean Skincare pledged to become Zero Waste by the end of 2021, aiming for recycled, recyclable or reusable packaging.
The brand partnered with TerraCycle to create bottles made from 80% recycled plastic and 20% ocean-sourced plastic debris. The initiative has removed 1.5 tonnes of waste from the ocean, producing more than 150,000 bottles for its Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium product line.
1. Aveda
Founded: 1978
Employees: 3,100
President: Shane Wolf
Aveda, a certified B Corp, was the first beauty company to use 100% post-consumer recycled PET in product packaging.
Currently, 95% of its PET bottles and jars contain 100% post-consumer recycled resin and more than 80% of its HDPE bottles are at least 80% PCR resin.
The brand uses 100% renewable electricity from a 3.6-acre solar array and wind power credits. Aveda also purchases carbon offsets to neutralise remaining emissions from various sources.
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