Mary Kay Makes Environmental Strides in Sustainability Report

Happi Top 50 Company Mary Kay released its Sustainability Report for 2026 with three pillars in mind: environmental, social and economic sustainability. The company says true sustainability goes beyond reducing its carbon footprint and recycling and instead creates a business model that values and uplifts people, while ensuring economic growth that benefits all.

Developed in collaboration with key stakeholders and aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, Mary Kay says it’s part of a global coalition working tirelessly to ensure a brighter, more equitable future.

“This report reflects not only the progress we are making today, but also the future we are shaping for generations to come,” said CEO Ryan Rogers. “We are reimagining what it means to be a beauty leader – advancing innovation, empowering all generations of entrepreneurs with new digital resources and creating enduring value for our Independent Beauty Consultants, their customers and our communities. We are proudly helping to build the sustainable future we believe in.”

In 2025, Mary Kay achieved ISO 22716, the global gold standard for cosmetic Good Manufacturing Practices, reinforcing the company’s commitment to product quality, safety and consumer trust worldwide. Speaking of product quality, in 2023, Mary Kay was named the #1 Direct Selling Brand of Skin Care & Color Cosmetics in the World by Euromonitor International, a title it has held for four years in a row through 2026. This year, more than $234,000 and 51 grants were awarded to young women from 17 countries pursuing STEM careers and 10 grants awarded to female students through the Madam CJ Walker Scholarships with the Society of Cosmetic Chemists sponsored by Mary Kay.

A Vehicle for Change

For Mary Kay’s environmental impact, 100% of the water used at its global facility is treated and recycled back into the local watershed.

As of 2025, 121 tons of recycled plastic material are used globally and 80% are certified Shea use from GSA-member suppliers.

Its bottle of TimeWise Targeted-Action Toning Lotion contains 94% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) content, which is plastic that has been recycled and repurposed.

More than 100 ocean and land projects have been supported globally since 1987 with The Nature Conservancy.

Mary Kay will also achieve a 30% reduction of its water consumption at its global Richard R. Rogers Manufacturing R&D Center by 2030.

One hundred percent of its product paper cartons are recycle-ready in the Americas and in Europe.

Ninety percent of its product paper cartons and shipping boxes will be certified globally by 2030.
Economically, the company has issued 1,600 patents to date. As a women-powered company, 63% of women comprise the executive team and the global workforce and 60% of leadership roles in its Top 10 markets are held by women.

Socially, 300 young women have been exposed to STEM career pathways through immersive events featuring Mary Kay’s women leaders in STEM at the Richard R. Rogers Global Manufacturing/R&D Center since 2023.

More than $230 million has been donated with the Pink Changing Lives Program in support of women, including via cancer research, helping survivors of domestic violence or creating opportunities for women and their families worldwide.

In 2025, Mary Kay expanded its Career Car program by offering Independent Beauty Consultants the option to go electric with the introduction of the all-electric Cadillac OPTIQ. Company officials said this evolution reflects its commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility while honoring a legacy symbol of achievement—blending recognition, modern luxury and progress toward lower-emission mobility.

By prioritizing energy efficiency, expanding the use of renewable energy, advancing low-carbon solutions whenever possible and working closely with suppliers to reduce emissions, officials said the company is taking continuous steps to contribute to a lower carbon future for beauty.

Advancing Sustainable Packaging in China

In July 2025, Mary Kay China participated in the 13th Conference on Plastics in Packaging where Yizhang Xie, technical and commercialization services director, delivered a keynote highlighting the company’s sustainable packaging strategy and goals, reductions in plastic use and an outlook on future eco-packaging innovations.

1.8 tons of total plastic weight was reduced by eco-friendly packaging, a 67.7% increase in 2025 from 1.22 tons in 2024.

In 2025, there was a 13.6% increase of proportion of sustainable packaging materials, based on sales intensity, compared to 2024.

In 2006, Mary Kay invested five million Chinese yuan to build a high standard wastewater treatment facility. Adopting a combined chemical and aerobic biological treatment process, the facility achieved an initial daily treatment capacity of 150 tons, fully accommodating all production wastewater generated at the manufacturing site.

In 2015, Mary Kay further upgraded its water treatment systems with the integration of air flotation and MBR membrane treatment, raising daily treatment capacity to 350 tons and significantly improving process stability and overall treatment efficiency.

Purified recycled water is mainly used for green space irrigation, air conditioning cooling and supplementary water for the Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor landscape pond.

Consequently, nearly 10,000 tons of tap water saved each year, reducing freshwater consumption and wastewater discharge and advancing efficient water use and low carbon operations.

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

In 2014, Mary Kay joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). This global partnership promotes the growth and use of sustainable Palm Oil, which is critical to the health of forests, communities and wildlife. As one of the most efficient and widely used natural ingredients in personal care, palm oil has the potential to support innovation and scale when sourced responsibly. By transforming how it is produced and procured, consumers can help protect forests and biodiversity while addressing climate impacts, ensuring that this essential ingredient contributes positively to both people and the planet.

Through Mary Kay’s partnership with the Global Shea Alliance (GSA), through which 80% of its suppliers are members, the company says it’s integrating sustainable sourcing into its core legacy products, such as Satin Hands, Satin Body and Satin Lips, as well as into new product development.

“The Shea sector faces complex, long-term challenges that require sustained investment and collaboration,” said Cristi Gomez, senior director regulatory, safety and R&D compliance. “Shea trees take decades to mature and climate pressures, such as drought, erratic rainfall, soil degradation and land-use constraints, threaten Shea parklands. At the same time, Shea remains a highly valued ingredient, with growing momentum to protect and sustain these ecosystems for the future. A critical opportunity lies in improving the livelihoods of the women who lead the industry. With approximately 16 million women involved across West Africa, organizations like GSA are driving progress by improving equipment, access to financing and market opportunities. Through collaboration with partners and fellow GSA members, stakeholders are working to strengthen the sector’s environmental and social sustainability for generations to come.”

EcoVadis Membership

In 2021, Mary Kay became a member of EcoVadis, a global sustainability ratings platform that evaluates companies’ performance across environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, with a strong focus on supply chain sustainability.

The Mary Kay Supplier Code of Conduct, which mandates ethical sourcing and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts, was distributed to all active direct suppliers. More than 100 Mary Kay suppliers either joined EcoVadis or renewed their EcoVadis Ratings Subscription. Among these suppliers, 87 were awarded EcoVadis medals for achieving high sustainability ratings.

In 2024, Mary Kay further strengthened its partnership with EcoVadis to actively engage with our suppliers regarding their ESG initiatives, including advancing sustainable procurement. Mary Kay is also incorporating EvoVadis sustainability scores into its supplier assessments.

In 2025, Mary Kay integrated EcoVadis sustainability ratings into the EverStream risk assessment platform, creating a unified view of ESG risk across the extended supply chain. This integration enabled enhanced transparency into Tier 3 suppliers, delivering deeper insight into supplier ESG performance beyond direct sourcing relationships. The platform also supports real-time monitoring of ESG indicators across multiple supplier tiers, allowing teams to identify emerging environmental, social and governance risks. The company expanded its scope to include the EcoVadis’ Carbon Action Manager (CAM), a platform designed to give companies full visibility into supplier Scope 3 emissions.

Protecting Texas Coastline and Wetlands

Mary Kay is supporting The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) work along the Texas coast, including constructing living shorelines, restoring and managing native coastal prairies and restoring oyster reefs and wetlands.
The Texas coast faces significant threats from climate change, including rising seas, severe hurricanes and unsustainable development, all of which are rapidly destroying essential habitats that support vulnerable species and buffer coastal communities.

For more than six decades, TNC has been partnering with communities to protect the lands and waters that define our state. With more than 1 million acres conserved and 37 preserves stewarded statewide, TNC advances science-based solutions to address climate impacts, water scarcity, habitat loss and development pressures, working with landowners, communities and public agencies to safeguard landscapes and sustain natural resources that support people, wildlife and local economies. Along the coast, TNC protects and restores prairie, marsh and wetland habitats that act as natural infrastructure — reducing erosion, absorbing storm surge, filtering water and supporting fisheries and wildlife — through practices such as prescribed fire, habitat restoration and collaborative research.

Mary Kay’s support helps advance this work, strengthening coastal resilience and protecting the ecosystems and communities that depend on a healthy Gulf Coast.