Report highlights the company’s 2025 progress toward its 2030 sustainability goals across environmental, social, and economic impact initiatives.
Mary Kay Inc., one of the world’s leading beauty and direct-selling companies, has released its 2026 Sustainability Report, highlighting the company’s continued progress toward its ambitious 2030 sustainability goals. The report provides a comprehensive overview of Mary Kay’s environmental, social, and economic achievements throughout 2025, demonstrating how sustainability has become deeply integrated into every aspect of its global operations.
For more than six decades, Mary Kay has built its reputation on empowering women while creating positive social and environmental impact. The newly released report reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to responsible business practices, innovation, and community development. Guided by its mission of “enriching women’s lives,” Mary Kay continues to expand initiatives that support female entrepreneurship, reduce environmental impact, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen communities across more than 40 international markets.
Sustainability at the Core of Mary Kay’s Business Strategy
Sustainability has evolved from being a corporate responsibility initiative into a fundamental part of Mary Kay’s long-term business strategy. The company continues aligning its operations with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on measurable progress across environmental stewardship, social development, and economic empowerment.
According to Mary Kay CEO Ryan Rogers, the company’s commitment to creating opportunities for women remains the driving force behind its business decisions. He emphasized that the company is not only innovating within the beauty industry but also building long-term value for communities, customers, independent beauty consultants, and future generations through responsible growth.
The 2026 Sustainability Report demonstrates how Mary Kay is translating its sustainability commitments into measurable outcomes while preparing for future challenges and opportunities.
Advancing Environmental Sustainability
Environmental responsibility remains one of the key pillars of Mary Kay’s sustainability strategy. Throughout 2025, the company accelerated initiatives designed to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, and promote sustainable sourcing across its global operations.
Responsible Packaging Innovation
Packaging remains one of the company’s major focus areas. Mary Kay continues reducing its reliance on virgin plastics by increasing the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials throughout its product portfolio.
One notable example highlighted in the report is the Mary Kay TimeWise® Targeted-Action® Toning Lotion, whose bottle now contains 94% post-consumer recycled plastic, significantly reducing the demand for newly manufactured plastic materials.
The company also continues improving packaging recyclability and reusability while working toward its goal of making packaging more environmentally responsible by 2030.
Sustainable Paper Sourcing
Mary Kay has also strengthened its commitment to responsible forestry practices by expanding the use of certified sustainable paper sources across product cartons, packaging inserts, and shipping materials.
Currently, all Mary Kay product cartons distributed throughout the Americas and Europe are fully recyclable. Looking ahead, the company aims for 90% of all packaging paper globally to come from certified sustainable sources by 2030.
To support this objective, Mary Kay continues collaborating with organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®), which promotes responsible forest management worldwide.
Supporting Sustainable Supply Chains
Responsible sourcing extends beyond packaging materials.
Mary Kay has maintained partnerships with internationally recognized sustainability organizations, including the Global Shea Alliance, supporting ethical shea production since 2023, and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), with which it has collaborated since 2014 to encourage sustainable palm oil production and responsible agricultural practices.
These partnerships help ensure that raw materials used in Mary Kay products are sourced responsibly while supporting farming communities across producing regions.
Water Conservation Initiatives
Efficient water management continues to be another important priority.
The company’s global Richard R. Rogers Manufacturing and Research & Development Center (R3) located in Lewisville, Texas, now treats and returns 100% of the water used at the facility back to the local watershed, reducing environmental impact while promoting responsible resource management.
Long-Term Environmental Partnerships
Mary Kay also celebrated nearly four decades of collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, marking its 39th year of partnership.
Over the years, the collaboration has supported more than 100 conservation projects across the United States and internationally, contributing to biodiversity protection, habitat restoration, and ecosystem conservation.
Creating Lasting Social Impact
Social sustainability remains deeply connected to Mary Kay’s founding mission of empowering women.
The company continues investing heavily in education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, community development, and scientific advancement through charitable giving and strategic partnerships.
Pink Changing Lives® Initiative
Since 1996, Mary Kay and its company-sponsored foundations have contributed more than $230 million through financial donations and in-kind support.
These contributions have funded cancer research, supported domestic violence prevention programs, assisted survivors, and created educational and economic opportunities for women and families around the world.
The Pink Changing Lives® initiative remains one of the company’s flagship global social responsibility programs.
Expanding Women’s Entrepreneurship
Mary Kay’s business model has always centered on empowering women through entrepreneurship.
Today, more than 600,000 women worldwide are benefiting from various leadership, education, business development, and community empowerment programs supported by the company.
During 2025, Mary Kay strengthened its collaboration with the City of Lewisville, the Lewisville Independent School District Education Foundation, and INCubatoredu.
The partnership introduces high school students to entrepreneurship through year-long educational programs covering business planning, product development, marketing, financial literacy, and innovation. Students conclude the program by presenting business ideas in competitive pitch events where they can receive seed funding to launch their ventures.
These initiatives encourage future entrepreneurs while promoting innovation among younger generations.
Supporting Women in STEM
Mary Kay continues promoting greater participation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Throughout 2025, the company awarded:
- 51 scholarships
- More than $234,000 in grants
- Support to young women from 17 countries
The company also continued supporting the Madam C.J. Walker Scholarships, administered through the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, providing additional educational opportunities for female students pursuing careers in cosmetic science.
In addition, more than 300 young women participated in hands-on STEM experiences at Mary Kay’s global R3 facility, gaining practical exposure to scientific careers and research environments.
Encouraging Scientific Innovation
Mary Kay also continued serving as a Special Award Organization at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) during both 2024 and 2025.
Across the two years, the company awarded 18 grants recognizing innovative student research across various STEM disciplines, helping encourage the next generation of scientific leaders.
Strengthening Economic Sustainability
The report also highlights Mary Kay’s commitment to creating an inclusive and resilient business environment while investing in innovation and technology.
Women Continue Leading the Organization
Mary Kay remains one of the beauty industry’s strongest examples of female leadership.
According to the report:
- Women represent 63% of the company’s leadership team
- 64% of research and development scientists are women
- Women make up 79% of the global brand development and creative team
- 63% of the worldwide workforce consists of women
- Women hold 60% of leadership positions across Mary Kay’s ten largest international markets
These figures reinforce the company’s long-standing commitment to gender diversity and leadership development.
Celebrating Global Expansion
Mary Kay also celebrated several important international milestones during 2025.
The company marked anniversary celebrations across multiple markets, including:
- Argentina – 45 years
- China – 30 years
- Portugal – 30 years
- Kazakhstan – 25 years
- Malaysia – 25 years
- Philippines – 25 years
- Slovakia – 25 years
- Armenia – 15 years
- Colombia – 10 years
These milestones demonstrate the company’s sustained international presence and continued growth across diverse markets.
Accelerating Digital Transformation
Digital innovation remains another major strategic priority.
Mary Kay has now migrated more than 95% of its custom applications to integrated Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms, modernizing critical business operations including e-commerce, enterprise resource planning (ERP), payment processing, and supply chain management.
One of the company’s biggest digital achievements during 2025 was the launch of the My Shop platform in both Germany and the United States.
The platform enables independent beauty consultants to create personalized online storefronts while seamlessly connecting with Mary Kay’s global e-commerce infrastructure, allowing customers to enjoy more convenient digital shopping experiences.
Mary Kay plans to continue expanding My Shop into additional international markets throughout 2026 and beyond.
Maintaining Global Manufacturing Standards
Quality remains central to Mary Kay’s manufacturing operations.
The company’s global manufacturing and R&D center in Lewisville achieved ISO 22716 certification, internationally recognized as the gold standard for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the cosmetics industry.
This certification reflects Mary Kay’s commitment to product quality, consumer safety, and manufacturing excellence.
Industry Advocacy
Beyond its own operations, Mary Kay actively participates in more than 100 trade associations worldwide, contributing to policy discussions related to entrepreneurship, direct selling, personal care products, logistics, and global supply chains.
Through these partnerships, the company works alongside industry leaders to help shape responsible business practices and sustainable economic growth.
Global Recognition for Excellence
Mary Kay’s sustainability efforts and business performance received significant international recognition during 2025 and 2026.
Among the company’s notable achievements:
- Recognized as the world’s number one direct-selling skincare and color cosmetics brand by Euromonitor International for four consecutive years from 2023 through 2026.
- Ranked No. 2 on Forbes’ 2026 Best Customer Service Companies list, rising dramatically from No. 93 the previous year. Mary Kay was the only beauty company within the Top 15 and the only direct-selling company among the Top 50.
- Ranked 8th on Forbes’ 2026 Best Brands for Social Impact, improving from ninth place in 2025 while remaining the only beauty brand in the Top 15.
- Secured 19th place in Women’s Wear Daily Beauty Inc.’s ranking of the world’s Top 100 Beauty Companies.
In total, Mary Kay earned 25 corporate awards during 2025, recognizing achievements in sustainability, scientific innovation, social responsibility, direct selling, and corporate excellence.
