The Estée Lauder Companies marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by reinforcing its climate action commitments.
In 2018, The Estée Lauder Companies signed the RE100 (Renewable Energy 100) with the aim of achieving 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2020.
On 22 April, the company announced that it had reached this goal in the US and in Canada one year ahead of schedule.
It also said that it is on track to reach both 100% renewable electricity and net zero carbon emissions globally by the end of the year.
As the impact of COVID-19 has been felt across global energy markets, the beauty giant urged other companies to help deliver flexible renewable energy solutions.
As reported, The Estée Lauder Companies has invested heavily in a renewable energy portfolio across its value chain. This includes the installation of numerous on-site solar arrays, and the signing of a virtual power purchase agreement with the Ponderosa wind farm in Oklahoma. The company is also unveiling a 1.4 Megawatt ground-mounted solar array in its Melville New York campus later in the year. The array will produce 1,800 MWh of solar electricity annually.
In addition, the company also deploys corporate volunteers to participate in the Fresh Air Fund’s summer initiatives. The Fresh Air Fund provides outdoor educational programmes for more than 1.8 million socially vulnerable children in New York City.
Further down the line, The Estée Lauder Companies is pursuing new science-based targets (SBTs) to further reduce carbon emissions.
“The Estée Lauder Companies has long been committed to global citizenship and environmental stewardship, but in recent years we have taken steps to amplify our response to climate change,” said The Estée Lauder Companies Executive Chairman William P. Lauder.
“Putting sustainability at the core of our business, we are building a company that is proactive and resilient and that is responding rapidly in times of need.”
The Estée Lauder Companies President and Chief Executive Officer Fabrizio Freda said, “We’ve detailed a robust climate mitigation strategy that is fully integrated across every brand, function and region. It is this integrated strategy that enables us to remain agile in making progress against a challenging backdrop.”
“Faced with immense challenges, we see that social good and environmental good are inextricably linked,” said The Estée Lauder Companies Senior Vice President Global Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability Nancy Mahon. “As we look towards recovery, one thing is clear. We will emerge from this crisis together, united with our global community. We all have the potential to act as springboards for collective action. Together, we can create a powerful force for good.”
