The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. — Ethics Grade C

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. receives an overall ethics grade of C (51/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Consumer Goods. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 42
• privacy: 60
• consumer: 48
• environment: 50
• humanRights: 55

Documented incidents (3)

• Child Labor in Supply Chain (high, 2022) — Investigations linked the mica used in sparkle cosmetics to illegal mines in India employing child labor. The company faced pressure to increase supply chain auditing and transparency.
• Major Data Breach (medium, 2023) — Hackers gained unauthorized access to internal systems, stealing a massive amount of corporate data. The breach highlighted vulnerabilities in the company's cybersecurity infrastructure.
• PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' in Makeup (high, 2021) — Third-party testing identified the presence of PFAS chemicals in several waterproof mascara and foundation lines. These chemicals are linked to health issues and do not break down in the environment.

Documented good deeds

• Breast Cancer Campaign — The company has raised over $100 million for global research, education, and medical services through its long-standing campaign.

Ethical alternatives

• Lush Cosmetics — Focuses on ethical sourcing, naked packaging, and is strictly against animal testing.