The Body Shop aims to empower waste pickers in India

The high-end beauty brand wants to step up its sustainability efforts

The Body Shop is stepping up its sustainability efforts with the launch of a new initiative to which aims to benefit both people and the planet.

In a bid to tackle plastic pollution, the high street beauty chain has announced it will buy 250 tonnes of recycled plastic from Bengaluru, India, to use in nearly three million 250ml haircare bottles by the end of 2019, reports The Independent.

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The brand took to Twitter to share some information about waste management, posting that "nearly three million people live without formal waste management."

Did you know that over 3 billion people live without formal waste management? It’s time to tackle the plastic crisis differently. Proud to be working with waste pickers in India to create #CommunityTradePlastic to fight for people and the planet! @Plastics4change @Hasiru_Dala https://t.co/DVWAxpXDiQ

— The Body Shop (@TheBodyShop) May 11, 2019

The plan is part of a three-year initiative to introduce Community Trade Recycled Plastic within the company and is launched in collaboration with with ethical sourcing platform Plastics for Change.

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The Body Shop is a British skincare, cosmetics and perfume company launched by Dame Anita Roddick in 1976 that prides itself on its ethically-sourced and cruelty free products.  It's well-known mantra states it is committed to banning animal testing and hopes to reduce plastic waste across the board.

PHOTO: FILE

Aside from fighting pollution, the scheme also aims to help empower people by sourcing plastic via a local Indian partner called Hasiru Dala which fights for waste picker rights.

According to the retailer, plastic pollution has created a massive surge of 1.5m people known as “waste pickers”, who collect the waste to earn money.

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By using the plethora of recyclable plastic that already exists, The Body Shop aims to fight the problem as well as empower the waste pickers with access to cleaner working conditions and recognition for their hard work.

Miss Singapore Universe pageant 2000 winner Eunice Olsen took to Twitter to share her experience with the waste pickers in India.

Veerama is a wastepicker I met on a #trip with @TheBodyShop to understand their #communitytradeplastic programme. They are working with wastepickers, an org Hasiru Dala, and a mobile platform #plasticsforchange. Can’t wait to share more about Veerama and #stories in #India! pic.twitter.com/943tStyT8c

— Eunice Olsen (@euniceolsen) May 10, 2019

As part of the new initiative, the company is also recycling and re-filling empty bottles customers bring in to stores. This includes being able to recycle other beauty brands bottles, but if customers return Body Shop containers, they will be entitled to a rewards scheme.

One thing is for sure, sustainability is the way to the future and we hope to see more beauty brands follow suit.

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