The Body Shop launches plastic recycling initiative

Portrait of a female waste-picker made from 1,500 recycled plastic items hand-collected by waste-pickers in Bengaluru, India. Beauty and body care retailer The Body Shop is stepping up its sustainability efforts with the launch of its new recycling scheme that helps consumers recycle their empty packaging.

The new initiative, which will launch in Australia on June 10, allows customers to return their empty bottles, jars, tubs, tubes and pots in The Body Shop stores for recycling. The scheme, established in partnership with recycling company TerraCycle, was introduced in the UK, Canada and France on May 10. It will be introduced in Germany soon.

The company said over the course of three years the program will scale up to purchasing over 900 tonnes of community-trade recycled plastic and help empower up to 2500 waste pickers in Bengaluru.

The retailer’s new campaign uses experiential marketing to tell people about the plight of waste-pickers in India and how it aims to help them by paying a fairer price for their work.

“They will receive a fair price for their work, a predictable income and access to better working conditions,” The Body Shop announced. “They will also get help in accessing services such as education, financial loans and healthcare services, and the respect and recognition they deserve.”

As part of their campaign, The Body Shop has commissioned a portrait of a female waste-picker made from 1500 recycled plastic items hand-collected by waste-pickers in Bengaluru. The installation was on display in London’s Borough Market from May 10 to 11.

(Inside FMCG)