Social Change Meets Sustainability: The Body Shop's Journey with Recycled Plastic
From the outset of this partnership, The Body Shop global teams were highly motivated to support PFC's mission of transforming waste plastic into a valuable resource.
Plastic pollution has reached alarming levels in today's world, and corporate responsibility and sustainability are the words on everyone's tongues.
At The Body Shop, sustainability is an integral part of our identity and history. We believe that businesses have a responsibility to create meaningful impact beyond just profits. In 2019, we became the first global brand partner of Plastics for Change (PFC), an innovative green-tech startup based in Bengaluru, which has grown to be the world's largest source of fairly traded, verified recycled plastic.
From the outset of this partnership, The Body Shop global teams were highly motivated to support PFC's mission of transforming waste plastic into a valuable resource. This initiative not only tackles climate change and plastic pollution but also empowers plastic waste pickers by providing them with a trading platform, enhancing income opportunities, promoting financial inclusion, and gaining societal recognition.
5 Years journey
The Body Shop started by integrating PFC material into one product line (shampoos) and has now expanded to 14 product lines, including all PET bottles and jars. This expansion covers body and hair care products, as well as some skincare items.
The Body Shop's plastic collection efforts have grown significantly as well. Since 2019, we have sourced over 2,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste from India, which is the equivalent of more than 100 million bottles. Annual purchases have grown from 250 metric tonnes in 2019 to 617 metric tonnes in 2022. This growth reflects The Body Shop’s increasing commitment to the program and its effectiveness.
Empowering Waste Pickers
Over 2,000 waste collectors are engaged in the initiative, with more than 50% female workforce participation, enhancing economic empowerment and social equity.
The Body Shop aims to continue to source 100% recycled plastic from PFC and find newer ways to use this material including in our merchandise - such as accessories, travel kits & make up pouches during the festive season in India.
The Power of Collaboration
The 5 year long partnership with Plastics for Change (PFC) in India is testimony to the brand commitment, demonstrating why and how businesses can take the lead, and work with partners, tech platforms and environmentally impacted communities to create solutions for a more sustainable future.
This year, in keeping with the festive spirit and the theme of Spark A Change, The Body Shop celebrates its partnership with Plastics for Change by extending the campaign’s impact. With Spark A Change 2.0 > Light up Lives, The Body Shop is redefining the spirit of festive gifting, where every purchase not only brings joy to the giver and recipient but also supports the livelihoods of marginalised communities across India. The brand, in association with Plastics for Change, has also launched multi-purpose makeup pouches made from recycled plastic in two striking colours (cross-zip pouch and square net-zip pouch).
As part of the new initiative, The Body Shop has launched a donation drive to provide e-tricycles to Plastics for Change, enabling waste collectors to improve their livelihoods sustainably. Customers are invited to support this initiative by donating through the brand’s website and across 200 stores in India.
Click here to donate: Donate Now
Broader Social and Economic Impacts
Beyond the personal narrative is the social and economic impact: consistent employment at adequately compensated wages has helped pull entire communities out of poverty. Appropriate education and acquisition of skills help spur long-term economic growth and security.
Moreover, it helps in systemic social change through efforts to eliminate the root causes of inequality and exploitation in the sector of waste management. The Body Shop promotes an economy in which all people can prosper, contrary to society's norms and naturally defying them.
Future Goals & Challenges
As much as good progress has been made so far, The Body Shop recognizes that much remains to be done. The company currently plans to expand this initiative by covering a larger segment of the waste-collecting population and recycling more plastic in other markets.
However, it is not without its challenges. For example, challenges to maintaining the quality of recycled plastic and scaling an initiative in ways that maintain the principles, and ethical standards. Navigating countries' regulatory landscapes is yet another hurdle. Hurdles aside, The Body Shop continues to work toward driving sustainability and social change.
A Different Approach to Change
It thus cuts across all boundaries in the holistic approach balancing social change and environmental responsibility. This initiative presents a very powerful example of how businesses can lead in seeking positive change against communities and ecosystems.
With this journey, The Body Shop invites all of us to reimagine our relationship with plastic, and it shows the power of corporations & the potential of corporate social responsibility as a force for good. The story of The Body Shop and its Community Trade Recycled Plastic initiative is not just about recycling; it's rewriting the future for people and the planet.
And so this journey continues, and the possibilities are endless about what can be done together.
