ACCORDING to a study from the World Bank Group, “4.8 to 12.7 million tons of plastic leak into our oceans each year, with Asia contributing to over 80% of this marine leakage.” The same report states that “the Philippines is the third largest contributor of [marine leakage of plastic waste] with an estimated 0.75 million metric tons of mismanaged plastic entering the ocean every year.”
Garnier’s One Green Step campaign aims to reduce this contribution.
In a press conference on Aug. 6, L’Oreal and Garnier Philippines Marketing Director Isabel Falco laid bare Garnier’s initiatives for helping improve their environmental impacts, with an ambitious goal to achieve all this by 2025.
She did this by outlining their progress since the beginning of Garnier’s Green Beauty For All Of Us initiatives in 2020.
In 2019, 670 communities were empowered by their sustainable sourcing drive, increasing this number by 787 in 2020; with a goal to reach 1,000 by 2025. In 2019, 91% of their new or “renovated” products have had improved environmental or social profiles, increasing this number to 97% last year, with a goal to make all of their products have this quality by 2025; 65% of the ingredients in new or “renovated” products were made with bio-based products this year, with a goal to reach 78% by 2025. They have also hit sustainability goals in their factories, with 53% of their industrial water treated on-site for recycling and reusing in 2020; and 49% of their factories going carbon-neutral in 2020.
As for packaging, they have saved 9,000 tons of virgin plastic in 2020, equivalent to 21% of their annual plastic consumption. “[By 2025], 100% of our plastic packaging will be reusable, recyclable, or compostable,” said Ms. Falco.
In line with this, they have also begun a plastic collection program in some select Watsons stores. “Our goal is to ensure that our activities are respectful of the planet’s boundaries,” said Ms. Falco. “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.”
Closer to home, Garnier is donating one mangrove seedling to Baybay, Leyte for every purchase of the Garnier Vitamin C All Star Kit Skincare Set (which includes Serum, Day and Night Cream, Moisturizer, Foam Cleanser, Micellar Water, Sunscreen, and Eye Cream; P1,499 on Lazada) through the CORA (Communities Organized for Resource Allocation) project, WoMangrove Warriors. According to a statement, since launching the program last June, “about 1,200 mangrove seedlings have been donated to the WoMangrove warriors.”
In relation to this, they have also entered a partnership with Lazada for plastic-free packaging for shipping Garnier products. Each purchase made from the official Garnier LazMall flagship store will be specially packed using eco-friendly sources and materials to reduce overall packaging footprint. Instead of the usual plastic tape, it uses water-infused kraft paper tape to secure and protect the products. In place of bubble wrap, it uses recycled paper wrap from FSC-certified suppliers that can be re-used at least six times and disintegrates in water within 30 seconds. All items are packed in a paper box that is RoHS-certified and does not contain any hazardous toxic chemicals. According to a statement, “since its introduction (of the Green Parcel program), Garnier has saved over 1,240 kg of plastic.”
“Filipinos are longing to live sustainably. We are heeding that call by helping them do so accessibly and easily,” said Garnier Philippines Marketing Manager Josteen Vega. — JL Garcia
*World Bank Group. 2021. Market Study for the Philippines: Plastics Circularity Opportunities and Barriers. East Asia and Pacific Region Marine Plastics Series; World Bank, Washington, DC. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/35295