Page 30 - Retail Pharmacy March 2021

28 SUSTAINABILITY SERIES GARNIER GETS ON BOARD THE TAKE 3 SEA MISSION By Emily Devon. IWhat do skin care company Garnier and non-for-profit organisation Take 3 for the Sea have in common? They both believe in taking simple steps to promote huge sustainability results. n the first Sustainability Series feature for 2021, Retail Pharmacy speaks with Garnier and Take 3 for the Sea on why their partnership, aimed at reducing the impact of plastic pollution and waste in the ocean and broader environment, is integral in helping to lead the way to a greener future, and how other businesses can join the consumer- demand movement, too. “We wanted to take our commitment to our local beaches a step further by working with a local partner who can make an impact on our Australian beaches that we’re all so proud of,” Garnier Marketing Director Jane Hanger said. “We’ve been huge fans of Take 3 for the Sea for a while and 2020 provided an exciting opportunity for Garnier to become one of Take 3 for the Sea’s official partners – a relationship that saw Garnier donate a percentage of proceeds from a major sales initiative to ... further that organisation’s amazing work.” A crystal-clear vision It seems, from speaking with representatives of both businesses, that the partnership decision was a no-brainer, as it became clear their goals and values were aligned. “We share a similar vision, and that vision is to conserve and protect the environment, and we really do have a shared value, which is to commit to and promote sustainable practices,” Take 3 for the Sea CEO Sarah Beard said, adding that Take 3 and Garnier believe in acting now “to ensure that our planet, and all of us, and all life have a sustainable future”. Both businesses value simple actions and big results, as well as ensuring that all involved in production processes are holding themselves accountable in terms of making sustainable choices. Take 3 for the Sea encourages people to “take three pieces of rubbish with you from the beach, waterway or anywhere, and you have made a difference”. “Take 3’s mission inspires participation in simple actions that reduce the impacts of plastic pollution and waste in the ocean and broader environment,” Ms Hanger said. “Garnier’s ‘Greener Beauty’ initiative and pledge to reduce our global environmental impact aligns well with Take 3 for the Sea’s vision, and our large customer base provides an audience incredibly receptive to these important sustainability messages.” She adds that ‘Greener Beauty’ is aimed at transforming “every stage of our value chain”. “We’re making a conscious decision to work with partners who share a collective commitment in creating a sustainable future for the next generation,” Ms Hanger said. Ms Beard and the team at Take 3 echo such sentiments. “We’re incredibly excited and supportive about Garnier’s initiative,” Ms Beard said. “We’ve chosen to partner with Garnier because of their commitment to sustainable practices and products. We choose to partner with businesses that are taking clear and direct steps to change their practice, and we like to work with them on that journey.” The plastic pollution crisis affects the entire planet, she adds, and it takes every person, actioning out small roles, to address it. “It’s got to be tackled along the whole supply chain, so from plastic producers and manufacturers to the consumers, and us as individuals,” Ms Beard said. “One of our values is that we all have a part to play, and Garnier is really taking steps in that direction and taking responsibility for their own production and products, to be more sustainable and hit their targets by 2025.” An aim to sea green In the September 2020 issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants magazine, Retail Media spoke with Garnier General Manager Consumer Products Division Geoff Bellingham about the launch of its ‘Greener Beauty’ initiative. Six months on, and Garnier says it is already taking huge strides in terms of sustainability practices and achieving its greener goals. “We’re so proud of the work that we’ve done already, using sustainable sourced and renewable ingredients in our products,” Ms Hanger said. “In 2020, a huge milestone for us was launching our Organics skin care range, where all the star ingredients from the range come from renewable sources that are able to be regenerated each year.” The entire value chain is assessed at Garnier, including sourcing renewable ingredients, product formulas, packaging methods and the factories its products are developed in. Ms Hanger says the same sentiments will apply to products the company is excited to be launching this year, “including our newest launch of \[Micellar\] Reusable Eco Pads”. “Each Eco Pad is designed to be reused up to 1000 times and really encourages women to make the switch from using regular cotton pads, which end up in landfill,” she said. Many of Garnier’s ‘Greener Beauty’ targets surround the main concerns of virgin plastic, increasing levels of biodegradability and reducing water consumption. Ms Hanger touches on how these concerns are being addressed throughout its production process. “Most plastics that Garnier uses in our packaging today are PET \[polyethylene terephthalate\], PP \[polypropylene\] and PE \[polyethylene\],” she said. “These materials can be recycled and reused several times and are the most commonly recycled plastic materials in the world. “In 2019, our use of recycled plastic saved 3670 tonnes of virgin plastic globally. RETAIL PHARMACY • MAR 2021