Eastman and Estée Lauder Forge First Sustainability Agreement for Recycled PET in Luxury Cosmetics

A global memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed by Eastman in Kingsport, Tennessee, and the New York‑based Estée Lauder Companies (ELC). The partnership will enable ELC to accelerate its 2025 sustainable packaging targets, marking the first sustainability‑based agreement between Eastman and a leading prestige beauty brand. The deal is poised to increase the use of recycled and recyclable plastics in high‑end cosmetics packaging.

Under the agreement, ELC and its portfolio of brands will adopt packaging solutions built around Eastman’s molecular recycling technologies and the Renew® resins, which contain up to 100% certified recycled content. The Renew portfolio now includes a new line of molecularly recycled polyesters produced through Eastman’s Advanced Circular Recycling process. These sustainable resins—such as Eastman Cristal Renew and Eastman Tritan Renew—are chemically indistinguishable from their virgin counterparts, delivering the same clarity, luster, color fidelity, and durability required for premium cosmetics packaging.

“Our suppliers are essential partners in pushing Estée Lauder forward on sustainability,” says Roberto Mangana, senior vice‑president and chief procurement officer. “Eastman’s molecular recycling technologies and Renew® portfolio will help us meet our packaging goals without compromising the high‑quality aesthetic, safety, and performance of our prestige products. We look forward to collaborating with them.”

The MOU supports ELC’s ambition that, by 2025, 75‑100% of its packaging will be recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled or recoverable. The company also plans to boost the amount of post‑consumer recycled material in its packaging by up to 50% within the same timeframe.

“We are thrilled to partner with Estée Lauder, an iconic leader in prestige beauty and sustainability,” says Scott Ballard, Eastman’s vice‑president and general manager of the specialty plastics division. “Together, we can set a benchmark for what is achievable today—fueling the circular economy for luxury cosmetics.”