Nars Cosmetics

NARS doesn't make any ingredient commitments at the brand-level. Its parent company makes some commitments across all owned brands but it's unclear what applies to this brand. Choice of ingredients is a strong determinant of environmental impact. NARS still uses many ingredients that pose a significant threat to the climate, including parabens, microplastics, other petrochemical-based ingredients, uncertified palm oil or palm oil-derived ingredients, and harmful suncare ingredients. NARS doesn't report having any product or company-level certifications.

NARS doesn't report on its packaging materials and hasn't made any efforts to concentrate its products or minimize its containers, which increases shipping emissions and packaging volumes. Its parent company, Shiseido Company, has made efforts to minimize the volume of material used in its secondary or tertiary shipping packaging across all owned brands. Shiseido Company reports using eco-friendly materials in its product containers, including ones that are bioplastics and/or recyclable, but it's unclear what applies to NARS. NARS appears to rely heavily on virgin plastic packaging.

NARS' parent company, Shiseido Company, shares information on its overall energy strategy. It uses 100% renewable energy to power its production sites, and is working to increase its use of renewables in its offices. Shiseido Company has targets for expanding its use of renewable energy. It implements energy efficiency measures in its production and offices, and shares water conservation measures, including reducing water consumption and establishing water stewardship initiatives. Shiseido Company doesn't share information on its energy strategy for its storefronts. NARS has a global production span, which is standard for the industry.

NARS offers refills, but puts them in packaging that is unidentified or otherwise difficult to dispose of, which adds to landfill waste. It doesn't offer any take back programs for its product containers. It doesn't provide any guidance to help customers properly recycle or dispose of its products.

NARS offers seasonal products or frequent releases, which can encourage overconsumption and production of excess inventory.

Commons is still evaluating this brand's marketing emails.

NARS doesn't appear to have a sustainability page or centralized source of relevant information. We expect more transparency from large brands. Shiseido Company, its parent company, publishes a detailed annual report with a clear, impact-driven strategy and progress reporting. Its last annual report was published in 2023. NARS shares a complete list of ingredients used in its products, on a per product basis.

NARS' parent company, Shiseido Company, internally measures and publicly reports its company-level emissions in partnership with, or with auditing from, a third party. It includes a breakdown by scope and identifies its top driver of emissions. The last reporting period was 2023. In its most recent update, its estimated emissions footprint was 1,008,126 tons CO2e.

Shiseido Company, NARS' parent company, has SBTi-approved emissions reduction targets for the medium-term (5-10 years), long-term (10+ years). It has reported on its progress within the past year, and is on track for some of its targets. However, it's missing progress reporting for its scope 3 targets, the most substantial part of its reduction efforts. It offsets emissions from an undisclosed portion of its operations.

NARS' parent company, Shiseido Company, publishes limited information about its supply chain partners, disclosing a few geographic locations. It publicly shares a supplier code of conduct, which prohibits forced labor, prohibits child labor, ensures the right to collective bargaining, and includes general environmental clauses. Its code of conduct doesn't disallow unauthorized subcontracting, ensure a living wage, or establish grievance mechanisms. Shiseido Company has a stated policy of regularly auditing its supply chain partners, which can mitigate human and environmental risks.

Shiseido Company, the parent company of NARS, doesn't appear to openly disclose its climate-obstructive trade association memberships. It's a member of 1 large climate-obstructive trade associations: Personal Care Products Council. It isn't a member of advocacy organizations advancing climate policy. It doesn't employ any state lobbyists and didn't donate more than $100k to climate-obstructive candidates or PACs from 2018-2024.