Tarte Cosmetics

Tarte Cosmetics has committed to avoid certain ingredients to lower its environmental impact, including parabens, phthalates, microplastics, and other petrochemical-based ingredients. While it has these ingredient commitments, it still uses many ingredients that pose a significant threat to the climate, including microplastics, other petrochemical-based ingredients, and uncertified palm oil-derived ingredients. Its products incorporate bio-based and/or biodegradable ingredients. It carries an overall certification from PETA Animal Test-free.

Tarte Cosmetics doesn't share any information on its packaging materials. We hope for more transparency from large brands. Based on its parent company reporting, it likely relies on petro-based plastics for its packaging, of a virgin or unknown source, which greatly increases its emissions and waste footprint.

Tarte Cosmetics' parent company, KOSE Corp, shares information on its overall energy strategy. It uses some renewable energy in its supply chain, but doesn't share targets for expanding its use of renewable energy. It implements water conservation measures, including water recycling. Tarte Cosmetics has a global production span, which is standard for the industry.

Commons couldn't find evidence that this brand offers any alternative models to lower its waste footprint, such as refills or takeback programs. It doesn't provide any guidance to help customers properly recycle or dispose of its products.

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

Commons is still evaluating this brand's marketing emails.

Tarte Cosmetics doesn't appear to have a sustainability page or centralized source of relevant information. We expect more accountability from large brands. Its parent company, KOSE Corp, publishes a detailed annual report with a clear, impact-driven strategy and progress reporting. Its last annual report was published in 2024. Tarte Cosmetics shares a complete list of ingredients used in its products, on a per product basis.

KOSE Corp, the parent company of Tarte Cosmetics, internally measures and publicly reports its other 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 2024. In its most recent update, its estimated emissions footprint was 809,015 tons CO2e.

KOSE Corp, the parent company of Tarte Cosmetics, has SBTi-approved emissions reduction targets for the short-term (1-5 years). It has reported on its progress within the past year, and is on track for all of its targets. Commons couldn't find evidence that this brand offsets any emissions.

Tarte Cosmetics and its parent company, KOSE Corp, don't publish information about their supply chain partners beyond noting that many suppliers are in Japan. It doesn't publicly share a supplier code of conduct, though it gives a high-level view of its supplier policy. This policy claims to prohibit forced labor, prohibit child labor, ensure the right to collective bargaining, and include environmental clauses. It doesn't have a stated policy of regularly auditing its supply chain partners. This may increase human and environmental risks. Commons couldn't find further information about this brand's supply chain and labor practices.

KOSE Corp, the parent company of Tarte Cosmetics, doesn't 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. It didn't donate more than $100k to climate-obstructive candidates or PACs from 2018-2024.