SUPPLIER
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Stated attributes
Publicly stated commitments — not necessarily independently verified.
Shiseido Co., Ltd.
Household/Personal Care
Leif rating: Likely Good
Headquartered in Japan
Shiseido is a large multinational beauty corporation with established ESG frameworks and sustainability reporting. The company has set science-based emissions reduction targets (46.2% Scope 1/2, 55% Scope 3 by 2030) and achieved 100% sustainable paper packaging by 2023, alongside ISO 14001 certification across all factories. However, Shiseido is not cruelty-free and does test on animals; it is not certified by Leaping Bunny or PETA and sells in markets like China where animal testing was historically mandated, creating tensions with stated sustainability commitments. The company has made specific commitments on labor practices, including recent Fair Labor Association membership and human rights due diligence, though independent verification of supply chain labor conditions remains limited.
- ISO 14001 ↗
- Net-zero target
- Sustainable packaging
- No forced labor
- No child labor
- Supplier code of conduct
- DEI policy
How Shiseido Co., Ltd. scores
Three pillars, scored independently. Higher is better.
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Environmental45Likely fair
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Labor55Likely good
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Compliance39.1Likely fair
What Shiseido Co., Ltd. does well
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Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) commitment
Shiseido has submitted greenhouse gas reduction targets to the Science Based Targets initiative, committing to emissions reductions aligned with climate science across its operations and value chain.
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UN Global Compact signatory
Shiseido is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, committing to its ten principles covering human rights, labor standards, environmental responsibility, and anti-corruption.
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ISO 14001 certification at manufacturing facilities
Multiple Shiseido manufacturing facilities hold ISO 14001 environmental management system certification, as disclosed in the company's sustainability reports.
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Scope 3 emissions disclosure
Shiseido publicly discloses Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions data in its annual sustainability reporting, covering upstream and downstream value chain emissions categories.
Controversies
Reported issues Leif found in public sources. Their presence lowers the rating.
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Animal testing practices in China market
Shiseido faced scrutiny from animal rights organizations including Cruelty Free International regarding its continued sale of products in mainland China, where post-market animal testing was historically required by Chinese regulations for imported cosmetics, a practice that continued into the early 2020s.
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Drunk Elephant acquisition and greenwashing scrutiny
Following Shiseido's 2019 acquisition of Drunk Elephant for approximately $845 million, the brand faced scrutiny from consumer advocates and journalists over ingredient claims and the use of terms such as 'clean' without standardized third-party certification, raising questions about marketing accuracy.
The detail
Environment
Shiseido has published annual sustainability reports disclosing greenhouse gas emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3, and has stated commitments to carbon neutrality and renewable energy use. According to the company's sustainability reports, Shiseido has set targets to reduce CO2 emissions and increase the use of renewable electricity across its operations. The company has reported initiatives related to sustainable packaging, including targets to increase the use of recycled and bio-based materials and reduce plastic use. Shiseido holds ISO 14001 environmental management system certification at a number of its manufacturing facilities.
Labor
Shiseido publishes a Supplier Code of Conduct and conducts supplier audits as part of its supply chain management program, according to its sustainability reports. The company discloses diversity and inclusion data, including gender representation at various management levels, and has stated commitments to increasing female leadership. Shiseido has reported on employee health and safety programs and publishes injury rate data in its annual sustainability disclosures. The company has manufacturing and sourcing operations across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and has disclosed participation in supply chain transparency initiatives.
Shiseido Co., Ltd. products on Amazon
1 product from Shiseido Co., Ltd., sold on Amazon (US). Leif earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Leif's rating reflects an independent sustainability assessment of the brand — drawing on
disclosures, third-party certifications, and public ESG data — not customer reviews.
Ratings are directional, not precise scores.
Read how scoring works and our
full methodology.
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and what each certification actually proves.