Sephora

Corporate Chemicals Policy

Sephora’s safer chemicals policy applies to intentionally added ingredients used in formulated products sold by Sephora, including third-party brands and online. It includes both a commitment to reduce high-priority chemicals, both in private-label products and by working with third-party brands, and the replacement with safer alternatives.

Oversight

Sephora has assigned members of management with responsibilities for its safer chemicals initiatives.

Collaboration

Sephora collaborates with Novi Connect, ChemForward, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and the Change Chemistry Retailer Leadership Council. In addition, Sephora worked with a panel of external experts specializing in chemical management, hazard assessment, packaging, and ethnicity and cosmetics to update its Clean at Sephora and Planet Aware programs.

Public Policy Support

Sephora was a signatory in 2023 to a letter encouraging U.S. EPA to expand the scope of products covered by its Safer Choice program to include beauty and personal care products.

Supplier Accountability

Sephora’s restricted substance list (RSL) is provided to private-label product suppliers and suppliers in the Clean at Sephora program, which are required to report and comply with the RSL. The necessary documentation is received internally to confirm accuracy of information, including fragrance ingredients, contaminants, impurities, byproducts, allergens, and nanomaterials in adherence with the RSL. Sephora also utilizes third-party testing and audits to ensure compliance with the RSL.

Sephora has developed 10 sustainability guides for suppliers, including guidance and resources on how to assess safer alternatives when replacing chemicals of high concern (CHCs) in a product formula. They also include strongly suggested guidance on what chemicals to avoid in product packaging, such as the reduction of plastic and avoiding using polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), and inks that are petroleum-based or contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The company has also conducted sustainability trainings on ingredients, safer alternatives, and packaging, including new guidance designed for Accelerate brands, Sephora employees, and merchandising.

Finally, recycled private-label packaging materials are evaluated and validated by a toxicologist, and where necessary, migration tests are conducted to evaluate packaging safety. The company is also testing packaging for substances of very high concern and comparing the test results with information shared by suppliers.

Reduction/Elimination Goals

Sephora has set a goal to eliminate hundreds of chemicals of high concern in products and packaging by 2030, which are outlined in its chemicals policy. It includes key chemicals such as various formaldehyde releasers and parabens; chemical classes including PFAS, phthalates, and bisphenols; and plastics including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), and polycarbonate (PC). This includes chemicals typically found in products marketed to people of color.

The company has also set a goal to double the number of Planet Aware brands it sells by 2026, which includes a list of restricted chemicals in products and packaging.

The company previously set a goal in 2019 to reduce the original chemicals in the policy by 50% by 2019 which it has since surpassed.

Safer alternative definition

Sephora’s definition of safer alternatives aligns with the Washington state definition.

Sephora has developed a Safer Ingredient guide, which includes recommendations for suppliers to evaluate ingredients for safety and environmental impact using third-party positive lists, assessment tools, performing chemical hazard assessments, and using hazard information from ChemFORWARD.