MAC Cosmetics

MAC Cosmetics has committed to avoid certain ingredients to lower its environmental impact, including parabens, phthalates, other petrochemical-based ingredients, uncertified palm oil or palm oil-derived ingredients, microplastics, harmful suncare ingredients. While it has some ingredient commitments, it still uses many ingredients that pose a significant threat to the climate, including microplastics, other petrochemical-based ingredients, and uncertified mica. MAC Cosmetics doesn't report having any product or company-level certifications.

MAC Cosmetics primarily relies on petro-based plastics for its packaging, of a virgin or unknown source, which greatly increases its emissions and waste footprint. It also uses some FSC-certified paper packaging. MAC Cosmetics hasn't made any efforts to concentrate its products or minimize its containers, which increases shipping emissions and packaging volumes. Its parent company has made efforts to minimize the volume of material used in its secondary or tertiary shipping packaging.

MAC Cosmetics' parent company, Estee Lauder Companies, shares information on its energy strategy. It uses some renewable energy to power its production sites and stores, and 100% renewable energy to power its corporate offices. Estee Lauder Companies has targets for expanding its use of renewable energy. It implements energy efficiency measures in its production sites and corporate offices. MAC Cosmetics has a global production span, which is standard for the industry.

MAC Cosmetics offers refills for some products, but puts them in packaging that is unidentified or otherwise difficult to dispose of, which adds to landfill waste. Its takeback program, Back-To-MAC, allows customers to return empty containers in-store or online. It provides recycling and/or disposal guidance for most of its products through this program.

MAC 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.

MAC Cosmetics has a sustainability page with high-level details on its climate strategy, but this page is hard to find on its website. Its parent company, Estee Lauder Companies, publishes a detailed annual report with a clear, impact-driven strategy and progress reporting. Its last annual report was published in 2024. MAC Cosmetics shares a complete list of ingredients used in its products, on a per product basis.

MAC Cosmetics' parent company, Estee Lauder Companies, 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. The last reporting period was 2024. In its most recent update, its estimated emissions footprint was 2,062,976 tons CO2e.

MAC Cosmetics' parent company, Estee Lauder Companies, has SBTi-approved emissions reduction targets for the medium-term (5-10 years). It has reported on its progress within the past year, and is on track for some of its targets. It offsets emissions from its corporate operations and US shipping.

MAC Cosmetics' parent company, Estee Lauder Companies, publishes limited information about its supply chain partners. It traces some of its supply chain. It publicly shares a supplier code of conduct, which prohibits forced labor but does not disallow unauthorized subcontracting, ensure the right to collective bargaining, ensure a living wage, establish grievance mechanisms, prohibit child labor, or include environmental clauses. Estee Lauder Companies doesn't have a stated policy of regularly auditing its supply chain partners. This may increase human and environmental risks.

MAC Cosmetics' parent company, Estee Lauder Companies, discloses all of its trade association memberships, including those that are climate-obstructive. It's a member of 2 large climate-obstructive trade associations: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Personal Care Products Council. It isn't a member of advocacy organizations advancing climate policy. Estee Lauder Companies employs state lobbyists with few fossil fuel aligned clients. Estee Lauder Companies didn't donate more than $100k to climate-obstructive candidates or PACs from 2018-2024.