Packaging
The brand utilizes primarily glass jars and bottles for its creams and lotions, which are recyclable, and it sources paperboard packaging from certified sustainable sources. In recent years, La Mer has introduced refillable packaging options for some products (screw-in or magnetized refill pods) to reduce single-use waste. The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), La Mer’s parent, set a goal for 75% of packaging to be recycled, recyclable, reusable, refillable or recoverable by 2025, and La Mer appears on track with more than 75% of its product packaging already meeting those criteria.
However, as a luxury brand, La Mer still employs ornate, multi-layered packaging (thick glass, plastic caps, spatulas, decorative boxes) which carries a higher material and carbon footprint per unit. There is limited evidence of post-consumer recycled content in its containers, and single-use plastic components (e.g. lids, pumps) are still present.
Ingredient Sustainability
On the positive side, the brand’s hallmark “Miracle Broth” is derived from Giant Sea Kelp sustainably harvested off the coast of California. La Mer reports that over 95% of its marine plant ingredients are responsibly sourced with protocols to protect ocean ecosystem. Additionally, formulas do include some renewable plant-derived oils and extracts (e.g. sesame seed oil, alfalfa powder, sunflower seedcake).
However, many of La Mer’s ingredients raise sustainability flags. The cream bases rely heavily on petrochemical-derived substances. For instance, Crème de la Mer contains mineral oil, petrolatum, microcrystalline wax, and paraffin as core ingredients. These are non-renewable petroleum derivatives with significant environmental footprints in extraction and production. Similarly, several products use silicones (e.g. cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone) and other synthetic polymers, which are not biodegradable and can persist in the environment.
Energy Use and Footprint
ELC’s operations (which include La Mer’s product manufacturing and offices) achieved Net Zero carbon emissions and 100% renewable electricity for direct operations by 2020. In practice, this means La Mer’s products are manufactured in facilities powered by renewable energy (such as wind and solar) and any residual emissions are offset, significantly shrinking the brand’s operational carbon footprint. The company also invests in energy efficiency and innovative technologies (like advanced water recycling and green building designs) that reduce overall resource consumption per unit produced. Additionally, La Mer ships products in climate-neutral shipping programs in some regions (utilizing carbon offset programs for delivery).
However, as a global luxury brand, La Mer still has a considerable footprint: ingredients like algae are transported, products are distributed worldwide, and the heavy glass packaging increases shipping weight (and thus emissions). The brand has not published a product-level carbon footprint, so it’s unclear how close it is to truly low-carbon operations beyond manufacturing.
Waste Management
ELC has committed to “zero industrial waste to landfill” at its production facilities, a goal it has largely achieved by ensuring that factory waste is either reused, recycled or converted to energy. For instance, the Oevel manufacturing site (which produces La Mer items) recycles 86% of manufacturing waste and 98% of fulfillment center waste, together reclaiming over 120 tonnes of materials each month that would otherwise be discarded. Innovations such as improved product filling techniques and bulk ingredient recycling have also led to a 3,000-ton annual reduction in sludge waste. These figures indicate a robust internal waste mitigation strategy.
Business Model
Fundamentally La Mer remains a part of a large cosmetics conglomerate driven by sales growth and expansion. Seasonal launches, luxury gift sets, and extensive product ranges encourage continual consumption. The business does not employ radically sustainable models like on-demand manufacturing or subscription reuse services. It relies on the conventional retail model (department stores, e-commerce) with all its associated impacts. Transparency is another concern: while ELC releases corporate sustainability reports, La Mer as a brand does not publish detailed breakdowns of its own environmental/social impact or progress toward goals.
