Boston, February 19, 2026 – Ulta Beauty, the largest beauty retailer in the U.S.,has agreed to disclose its plastic footprint for its own brand packaging in 2026 and set a new sustainable packaging goal. The company agreed to these steps in exchange for Green Century withdrawing a related shareholder proposal.
“Our beauty doesn’t have to come at the expense of nature’s beauty,” said Leslie Samuelrich, president of Green Century. “By committing to sustainable packaging and transparency about its actions, Ulta Beauty is taking the right approach for customers, shareholders and the planet.”
Social costs of plastic use in the US amounts to almost $1.1 trillion a year
The beauty industry generates approximately 120 billion packaging units annually, much of it plastic waste. A recent study by Duke University found that the economic, environmental and health costs of plastic use in the U.S. add up to as much as $1.1 trillion per year. This includes costs from the health impacts linked to oil and gas extraction and plastic use, cleaning up plastic pollution and damage to marine life.
Consumers are increasingly paying attention. According to a recent study, 75% of Americans want to see the private-sector offer plastic-free options, and 72% agree that companies should stop producing and using so much single-use plastic.
What happens to beauty product packaging after use?
Many people have been led to believe that recycling can solve the problem of plastic packaging. However, only 9% of plastic gets recycled. Plastic is more likely to be incinerated, which causes air pollution. Certain kinds of plastic packaging, such as mascara and lipstick tubes, are highly unlikely to be recycled because of the type of plastic used and size of packaging. The beauty industry can improve the sustainability of its packaging by eliminating unnecessary packaging, switching to non-plastic materials and refillable packaging.
“Tackling the plastic crisis can feel overwhelming but the first step is getting good data. With this agreement, Ulta will be providing better information on its plastic use,” said Frances Fairhead-Stanova, shareholder advocate at Green Century “As Ulta gets better at measuring, we will look forward to the company’s improvements in managing and reducing its use of plastic. And that’s lasting improvement — not just cosmetic.”
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