- Integrate sustainability into the retail network and encourage consumer participation
- Sustainability-related aspects such as waste reduction, water conservation, and responsible material sourcing
SHANGHAI, Oct. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Estée Lauder Companies is leading the way in its sustainability efforts. Recently, the "Responsible Store Design" project stood out with excellent performance and won the "2024 Green Point China|Sustainable Practice Case of the Year". Since June last year, 20 stores of The Estee Lauder Companies in China have achieved the certification of the project, involving 9 pillar brands of the group, saving about 15%-35% of energy and 30%-50% of water in a single store, and comprehensively recycling and managing more than 15 tons of construction waste.
The Estée Lauder Companies' Responsible Store Design Program Wins "2024 Green Dot China|Sustainable Practice Case of the Year"
The Estée Lauder Companies' Responsible Store Design Program Wins "2024 Green Dot China|Sustainable Practice Case of the Year"
Brick-and-mortar stores are one of the most important channels for consumers to engage with retail companies. Barbara Kahn, a professor of marketing at the Wharton School and former director of the Jay H. Baker Retailing Center, once said, "Being able to 'touch and feel' a product during the buying process, and having the help of a salesperson, are both important for many product types." "
Multi-brand companies in the beauty industry have very different requirements for store types and retail space due to differences in brand tonality and product categories. In a retail company system, the implementation of sustainable practices often requires multiple departments to collaborate based on the same goals. Against this backdrop, the Estée Lauder Companies has explored a new path by integrating sustainability principles into store design concepts.
In fact, prior to the launch of the Responsible Store Design program, The Estée Lauder Companies had already incorporated sustainability into store design and visual merchandising. In fiscal year 2020, The Estée Lauder Companies established internal green building standards. This internal standard, which covers all spaces in the Group's physical stores and office spaces, has been designed with a scoring system for sustainability in waste, water and energy, material sourcing and day-to-day operations, helping the Group to effectively integrate sustainability principles into the design of its spaces. As a practice in the application of the standard, The Estée Lauder Companies partnered with a consulting firm with expertise in green building design and worked with a third-party agency to review the details of the Responsible Store Design project to ensure the reliability and professionalism of the project.
Estée Lauder brand stores
"Sustainability has long been part of The Estée Lauder Companies' strategy and culture, and the Responsible Store Design Program is an important way for us to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability to consumers," said an Estée Lauder Companies. We are excited to launch our Retail Sustainability Program and look forward to expanding this program from pilot stores to retail operations around the world in the future." "
Aveda Shanghai Qiantan Taikoo Li Store
Climate action, waste reduction, water stewardship and responsible sourcing are all fundamental principles of The Estée Lauder Companies' approach to environmental sustainability and are key components of the Responsible Store Design program. In May 2023, The Estée Lauder Companies created a new position of Sustainability Officer (CSO) to drive the strategic integration and implementation of the company's sustainability initiatives. In the Estée Lauder Companies Social Impact & Sustainability Report for fiscal year 2023, The Estée Lauder Companies disclosed that the company has achieved carbon neutrality in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions using 100% renewable energy in its direct operations for four consecutive years. At the same time, 71% of The Estée Lauder Companies' product packaging is renewable, refillable, reusable, recyclable or recyclable.
The Estée Lauder Companies has a long history of sustainable development in China and has made achievements in many areas. Following the realization of the first "zero-carbon pavilion" in the consumer goods exhibition area at the 5th CIIE, the Group's premium hair care brand Aveda held the unveiling ceremony of the LEED Platinum retail design and construction green building certification at Taikoo Li Qiantan store in Shanghai, becoming the first retail store in China to receive this award. All wood used in the store is FSC® certified for sustainable forests, while ensuring that 81% of construction waste is recycled.