Garnier to reduce plastic waste in ‘One Green Step’ campaign
Global warming is a crisis. An ongoing compilation of chaos as companies scramble to find solutions fast to slow the rate of climate change and attempt to save the planet from an environmental nightmare. Of course, this sounds dismal and depressing, but the reality of it is that this threat is very real, and global companies do have a responsibility to combat, where they can, their contribution to a crisis that is steadily becoming, if it isn’t already, the direst issue of our lifetimes.
A key contributor to global warming is plastic waste. Investigations by the World Bank Group revealed around 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic is leaked into the oceans annually, and 80% of this waste is attributable to Asia alone. Alternatively, the Philippines was identified as the third biggest contributor of marine waste, responsible for around 0.75 million metric tonnes of plastic found in the ocean. So, as the news comes that one of the leading global cosmetic brands, Garnier, is to tackle the decrease of its plastic waste… Well, this can only bode well for future advancements in plastic waste reduction.
Sustainably sourcing materials and packaging for a more eco-friendly focused future
Recently, Garnier stepped up to the challenge of addressing its sustainable practices - or lack thereof - and introduced its ‘One Green Step’ campaign, which aims to radically reduce the company’s impact on the environment by 2025. Speaking at a press conference earlier this month, Isabel Falco - Marketing Director for L’Oreal and Garnier Philippines - put forward the company’s proposed solutions to reduce cosmetic plastic waste and highlighted the apparent progress made since Garnier’s Green Beauty For All Of Us initiative in 2020.
Falco stated:
- 9,000 tonnes of virgin plastic was saved in 2020 (21% of the company’s annual plastic consumption)
- Garnier’s sustainable sourcing drive empowered 670 communities in 2019, and 787 in 2020
- 53% of its industrial water is treated on-site to ensure it’s recyclable and reusable
- 65% of the ingredients used in its new products were produced with bio-based products
- 97% of its new products have been improved for healthier environmental and social profiles
- 49% of its factories went carbon neutral during the course of last year
“[By 2025], 100% of our plastic packaging will be reusable, recyclable, or compostable,” says Falco, repeating the company’s ambitious targets that, she believes, it will no doubt succeed in meeting.
“Our goal is to ensure that our activities are respectful of the planet’s boundaries.
“Reducing our impact is not enough. We want to empower our business ecosystem and unite with our suppliers to also help them transition to a more sustainable world.
“We want to make a positive contribution to society by providing financial support to urgent social and environmental causes.”
Garnier gets the gears turning as the cosmetics industry looks set for a make-over
In light of this, for every purchase of its Vitamin C All-Star Kit Skincare set, Garnier, will donate one mangrove seedling to Baybay, Leyte, through the Communities Organised for Resource Allocation (CORA) project, WoMangrove Warriors. Reportedly, around 1,200 mangrove seedlings have since been donated since the programme was first launched in June 2020.
Garnier has also teamed up with Lazada to ensure all their packaging is plastic-free, switching to more sustainable, eco-friendly sources and materials as it prioritises addressing its plastic footprint. Alternatives such as recycled paper wrap, water-infused kraft paper tape and paper boxes mean that the introduction of Garnier’s ‘Green Parcel Programme’ has shown that success is achievable, and the initiation of such a campaign has resulted in over 1,240kg of plastic being saved.
