Sephora USA has been hit with a US$775,000 fine over “improper hazardous waste management” in Sacramento, California.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office filed a civil enforcement action following an investigation into the waste generated by the LVMH-owned retailer’s operations.
It alleged that Sephora improperly handled waste that met the definitions of hazardous or medical waste under California law.
The waste consisted largely of damaged, returned or expired items which could not be sold.
“These continued enforcement efforts ensure businesses follow the law when it comes to handling hazardous waste,” said District Attorney Thien Ho.
“Our office is committed to protecting both the public and the environment, and we will hold companies accountable to ensure they operate responsibly and within the law.”
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with 24 District Attorney’s and City Attorney’s Offices, has reached a $775,000 settlement with Sephora USA.
Under the terms of the settlement, Sephora will pay $550,000 in civil penalties, $200,000 in cost recovery, and $25,000 to the Environmental Enforcement and Training Account managed by the California Environmental Protection Agency.
Sacramento County will also receive $77,730 of the combined penalties and costs.
The judgment was filed in Sacramento County Superior Court.
A Sephora spokesperson told Cosmetics Business: "Sephora’s approach to handling hazardous waste from California stores has always been in strict compliance with the Hazardous Waste Control Law.
"In order to move forward, we agreed to comply with the Task Force and settle without admitting wrongdoing.
"We have always taken environmental protection seriously and support a number of responsible retailer impact efforts through our Planet Aware product designation, our Beauty (Re)Purposed empties collection program, and various other commitments related to carbon, packaging, recycling, and sourcing.
"We report our year-over-year progress on these initiatives in our Global Impact Report.”
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