Estée Lauder has revealed its latest sustainability progress and commitment towards inclusion & diversity in a new report.
The Fiscal 2019 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report titled, “Inspired by Beauty, Driven by Our Values,” showcases the global beauty company’s efforts in the areas of sustainability and core citizenship.
It announced the company is on track to meet its net zero carbon emissions target and plans to source 100 percent renewable energy by the end of 2020.
Estée Lauder, based in New York City, counts its success this year partly due to a portfolio of projects including solar power and wind energy.
The firm has also recently invested in a 1.4MW solar array at its Melville campus in New York, which is designed to produce more than 1,800 MWh of solar power annually from more than 3,300 panels. The ground-mounted array is expected to offset the release of 1,300 metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year.
In terms of its work towards Inclusion & Diversity (I&D), The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) recognised the company as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” after it scored 100 percent on HRC’s 2019 Corporate Equality Index.
In addition, Forbes named Estée Lauder #1 Employer for Women 2019 (July 2019) and the company was recognised within Forbes’ “Best Employers for Diversity 2019”.
The company also focussed on attracting a more diverse talent pool, hiring a dedicated recruiter to focus on diverse talent and attending career fairs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United States.
Fabrizio Freda, president and chief executive officer of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc, said: “As we continue to deliver on our promise to create the world’s most beloved products and experiences, we believe that embedding citizenship and sustainability across our business reflects the value we place on long-term, sustainable growth.
“This year, we took important steps to more formally integrate these longstanding principles into our strategy and across our entire business.”
This year, Estée Lauder set its goal of impacting the wellbeing of 10 million people across the globe through programs and grants which focused on health, education and the environment.
The Estée Lauder Charitable Foundation continued to support girls’ education globally, including equipping girls worldwide with the academic training, life skills and confidence to thrive in their communities.
The Foundation also focussed on further supporting the Student Leadership Network’s “The Young Women’s Leadership School” (TYWLS) of East Harlem, New York, and recently supported its expansion into Los Angeles, California. Last year, 100 percent of graduating TYWLS seniors were accepted into college.
The company has also monitored existing supplier performance via the EcoVadis tool, becoming the first prestige beauty company to fund the HERproject program which unleashes the full potential of women working in global supply chains.
William P. Lauder, executive chairman of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc, said: “We credit the success of The Estée Lauder Companies in the dynamic and fast-paced world of prestige beauty to the passion and dedication of our employees, the vision of our leaders and the strength of our beloved brands.
“We look forward to building a beautiful and sustainable future together.”
