Reducing virgin plastic use

We will not use new

The recyclability of plastic is one of its core appeals. However, as a business we are on the path to reducing the amount of virgin plastic we use – in other words, we can’t use plastic that hasn’t been used before. In addition, several product categories have been redesigned with weight reductions. One example is our 1-litre bath and shower gel bottle that we redesigned for a global healthcare brand. The original bottle, made in 2019, contained 25% post-consumer recycled (PCR) PET; by December 2020, we had increased the PCR content to 50% and are working to increase this to 100% in 2021.

By implementing thinner bottle walls, we made the bottle lighter, and added a visual design to the outside in keeping with the brand, to strengthen its structural integrity. The new bottle has been a commercial success during the pandemic, as people have chosen larger capacity containers. As well as the commercial benefits, the bath and shower gel bottle has met our own sustainability targets and those of our customers.