Coty Reduces Air Freight Usage Despite Emissions Spike
Operators must manage volume volatility when transitioning to lower-carbon transport modes to maintain efficiency.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Transportation
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Coty reduced its air freight usage by 48% compared to 2019 levels as part of a strategy to shift logistics toward sea and rail transport. Despite these efforts, the company reported a 33% increase in air freight emissions between fiscal year 2025 and 2026.
Why it matters
Operators face significant challenges in meeting decarbonization targets as fluctuations in supply chain demand can cause emissions to spike despite progress in shifting transport modes. This shift toward sea and rail highlights the difficulty of managing transport-related environmental footprints in a global market.
Coty has achieved a 48% reduction in air freight usage since 2019, though air freight emissions rose 33% between fiscal year 2025 and 2026. While road transport comprises 91% of the company's total shipping weight, the firm is currently testing new emission-reduction strategies.
The players
Coty
A multinational beauty company that manages complex global supply chains for cosmetic and fragrance manufacturing.
Etsy
An e-commerce marketplace platform for handmade and vintage goods that relies on global logistics and shipping.
Amazon
A global technology and e-commerce company with an extensive proprietary and third-party logistics network.
eBay
An international online marketplace that facilitates direct-to-consumer and business-to-consumer trade.
The details
Coty is actively optimizing its supply chain by moving volume from air to slower, more carbon-efficient modes like sea and rail. To monitor these efforts, the company utilizes EcoTransIT World software to calculate greenhouse gas emissions across its logistics network. Additionally, the company is piloting electric vehicles for local factory-to-distribution shuttling, starting with three units in Goiania, Brazil.
Timeline
2019: Progress tracking began for air freight reduction goals.
Fiscal year 2025 to 2026: Air freight emissions increased by 33%.
Fiscal year 2026: Three electric vehicles were implemented in Goiania, Brazil.
Early 2027: A pilot project for Class 8 zero-emission trucks is scheduled to launch.
Market Landscape
Coty utilizes the EcoTransIT World software standard to calculate its greenhouse gas emissions and guide its transition toward lower-carbon transport. This approach reflects a broader industry movement among major retailers to standardize logistics tracking ahead of 2027 zero-emission truck pilots.
Operators should monitor whether their supply chain emissions decouple from volume increases as they shift away from air freight. Implementing standardized calculation software may be necessary to identify discrepancies between operational mode shifts and actual emissions performance.
The takeaway
Emissions can rise even as companies successfully pivot to lower-cost transport modes, suggesting that volume volatility can easily mask operational improvements. Evaluate the total weight of your road versus air shipments to identify high-impact areas for potential electric vehicle integration.
What happens next
A pilot project for Class 8 zero-emission trucks involving companies like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay is scheduled to launch in early 2027.
Further reading
For more on evolving logistics strategies, visit the Transportation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Supply Chain Dive.
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