Celebrity Capital Meets Climate Accountability: The Cleanest Star-Backed Brands Of 2026
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By PAGE Editor
Celebrity-backed brands have long dominated beauty and wellness headlines, but a new benchmark is emerging beyond sales and social buzz: operational sustainability. A February 2026 report by custom packaging company Arka suggests that when measured against environmental impact, some of the most recognizable names in entertainment are also building some of the cleanest supply chains.
After analyzing 28 celebrity-founded companies across beauty, fashion, wellness and drinks, the study found that Papatui, founded by Dwayne Johnson, ranks as the most sustainable celebrity-owned brand currently on the market.
The Carbon Math Behind Celebrity
Using U.S. EPA supply-chain data, Arka estimated carbon emissions across categories and created a proprietary Carbon Footprint Index. Each brand’s score combined three weighted factors:
Pollution per dollar of sales
Pollution per individual product
Total annual emissions scaled to company size
Researchers also reviewed publicly available environmental and animal welfare policies, alongside cruelty-free certifications such as PETA and Leaping Bunny. Lower scores indicate cleaner operations relative to revenue and volume.
The results reveal a clear pattern: seven out of the ten cleanest celebrity brands are certified cruelty-free, signaling that animal welfare commitments often correlate with tighter supply-chain controls.
The Top Performer: Papatui
With $1.25 million in annual revenue and 29,000 units sold, Papatui achieved the lowest Carbon Footprint Index score: 3. At a $43 bestseller price point, each product generates just 5 kilograms of carbon pollution per unit sold — well below industry averages in comparable categories.
What makes that notable isn’t simply the number. It’s the efficiency. In an industry often driven by excess packaging, rapid product drops and influencer velocity, Papatui demonstrates that premium positioning doesn’t inherently require environmental compromise.
High Volume, Low Impact
Second place went to Haus Labs, founded by Lady Gaga. The brand generated approximately $6 million from over 163,000 units while maintaining one of the study’s lowest pollution rates. With official certifications from PETA and Leaping Bunny, Haus Labs pairs scale with transparency — keeping its total yearly footprint to roughly 587 tons.
Tied closely is Kylie Cosmetics by Kylie Jenner. Once a $339 million juggernaut at its peak, the brand’s recalibrated production strategy has significantly lowered its environmental impact, bringing total annual pollution down to approximately 154 tons. Fewer units, tighter production — a leaner footprint.
Meanwhile, Kora Organics, founded by Miranda Kerr, generated $15 million in revenue from over 700,000 units while maintaining one of the strongest environmental and cruelty-free ratings in the group. The company holds certifications from both PETA and Leaping Bunny and publishes clear sustainability policies — an increasingly non-negotiable signal for Gen Z and millennial consumers.
Hair color line Good Dye Young, co-founded by Hayley Williams, also ranked high. Despite selling over 742,000 units and generating $15 million in revenue, the brand produces just 2.2 kilograms of carbon pollution per product — one of the most efficient ratios in the study.
The Price of Sustainability
Interestingly, Pattern Beauty, founded by Tracee Ellis Ross, carries the highest average product price among the sustainable brands, with items averaging $169. The premium pricing suggests that sustainability in celebrity commerce can occupy both ends of the spectrum: efficient mass and considered luxury.
Other brands making the top ten include Anomaly Haircare by Priyanka Chopra, Florence by Mills by Millie Bobby Brown, JLo Beauty by Jennifer Lopez, and Blake Brown by Blake Lively.
Why Smaller May Be Smarter
According to Arka’s CEO, many celebrity brands historically prioritized aesthetics and influencer buzz over operational transparency. But the data suggests a shift.
“Smaller companies have a real edge,” the CEO noted. “They can pick suppliers more carefully, cut out middlemen and make changes faster. The brands doing well in this study are building cleaner operations from day one.”
As consumers increasingly scrutinize ingredient sourcing, packaging waste and supply-chain emissions, celebrity founders face a new test: not just how well their brands sell, but how responsibly they scale.
In a market saturated with fame-driven launches, environmental discipline may become the ultimate differentiator — separating the brands built for headlines from those built for longevity.
Source: February 2026 report by Arka.
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A February 2026 study by Arka ranks Papatui by Dwayne Johnson as the most sustainable celebrity business, revealing that seven of the ten cleanest brands are cruelty-free certified and that operational efficiency — not just scale — now defines responsible growth.