Coty is intensifying its efforts to decarbonise its supply chain, focusing on reducing air freight and increasing maritime and rail transport. The beauty group said in its fiscal 2026 sustainability report it is pursuing a strategy to get its dependence on air freight “as close to zero as possible”.
The company, which has licensing agreements with brands such as Burberry, Tiffany & Co. and Swarovski, has reduced its air freight volumes by 48% since 2019. But continuing disruptions across global supply chains continue to hinder efforts to cut emissions from transport.
Air freight emissions under pressure from supply chain disruptions
Coty’s air freight emissions increased 33% from fiscal year 2025 to fiscal year 2026. The company’s turn to sea and rail transport helped to cushion the impact of this blow. These actions also helped Coty avoid an estimated 3 percent year-over-year increase in air freight volumes.
Expanding alternative transport modes is a vital part of the group’s decarbonisation strategy as it looks to reduce the environmental footprint of its logistics operation while dealing with disruption to international supply chains.
Road transport remains a key priority for decarbonisation.
Coty’s sustainability report states that 91% of the total weight of goods shipped by Coty is transported by road and the company is looking beyond air freight to tackle its emissions.
The group is deploying electric vehicles as part of its efforts to cut down on emissions from its transport business. Coty has deployed three electric vehicles to transport goods between its factory and distribution centre in Goiania, Brazil, in fiscal 2026.
The company is also looking to improve the utilisation of trucks and containers and is working with suppliers and logistics partners to accelerate freight innovation. These are part of its commitment to improvement of operational efficiencies and reduction of the environmental impact of moving goods within its supply chain.
Digital instruments boost freight efficiency, emissions tracking
Coty is also further reducing the footprint of its road-freight operations through route optimisation and improved truckload efficiency. In this regard, the company uses EcoTransIT World software that calculates greenhouse gas emissions associated with transport activities.
The tool allows Coty to measure emissions from the transport operations it manages, to improve the accuracy of its environmental accounting and to identify specific opportunities for further reductions.
The beauty group is pursuing a more holistic strategy to decarbonising logistics through a mix of modal shifts, fleet electrification, improved loading practices and emissions monitoring.
Other companies are pushing forward with zero-emission freight projects.
Coty is not alone in its desire to cut emissions from freight transport. Companies including Etsy, Amazon and eBay are part of a pilot project to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission Class 8 trucks.
The programme currently sits at 63 trucks and is slated to launch at the beginning of 2027. The project is part of wider efforts by the business community to speed up the uptake of lower-emission freight options.
Coty said its strategy to cut supply chain emissions is still focused on reducing reliance on air freight in favour of sea and rail, deploying electric vehicles and improving logistics efficiency.
