Friday 27 January 2017

Plastic Fantastic

As a manufacturer or retailer intent on doing Good as well as making a profit, you could do worse than using the UN's 17 sustainable development goals (aka 'Goals to transform our world') as a framework for action.

Announced recently at the World Economic Forum at Davos is an initiative from P&G that hopefully will have some impact on goals:

3. Good health and well-being
12. Responsible consumption and production
14. Life below water

... and maybe a few more besides.

Head & Shoulders in the '1st recyclable shampoo bottle made with beach plastic' will be available at Carrefour in France this summer. The bottle is made with up to 25% recycled beach plastic, (PCR = post-consumer recycled ) and P&G have developed this with recycling experts TerraCycle and SUEZ.  Numerous technical problems had to be overcome such as UV exposure and degrading of plastic.

Now, yes, it's 'up to 25%' and, yes, it's only going to be available in a limited run in France, and, yes, P&G haven't got the cleanest slate in other areas of responsible production (record on animal testing),  but I do think this is a great step in the direction 'part of the solution instead of part of the problem.' Hats off to P&G (which I can happily do if I use Head & Shoulders.)

Using beach plastic has also inspired adidas, who are co-operating with the organisation Parley for the Oceans to produce trainers using the recycled waste from the seas and beaches.

And, while P&G are claiming their 'first', there's a small but great brand who have been doing this for a while - Method.

If I was working at Method, I'd have a slight sly smile on my face about all P&G's ta-raaing about their Head & Shoulders bottle. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

4 comments:

Barbara said...

Hi Sue, I enjoyed a giggle re your ‘hats off to P&G’ comment!

Sue Imgrund said...

And on a similar theme:
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/sweden/articles/ikeas-new-must-have-kitchen-is-made-from-recycled-plastic-bottles/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=02092017Swedenkitchen

Sue Imgrund said...

And here's an initiative from Timberland:
https://www.contagious.com/blogs/news-and-views/timberland-thread-collection

Sue Imgrund said...

Important that PR and stunts involving plastic are tied to something the company is actually doing in its processes rather than just building awareness of the problem:
https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/its-time-brands-call-time-plastic-stunts/1581886?bulletin=campaign_creativity_bulletin&utm_medium=EMAIL&utm_campaign=eNews%20Bulletin&utm_source=20190412&utm_content=Campaign%20Creativity%20Fix%20(58)::&email_hash=