The need for sustainable packaging comes from the fact that only 14% of the plastic packaging used globally is recycled. Whereas, more than 40% of packaging ends up in a landfill. [Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF)]
In the previous series, we spoke of companies like Puma, Lego, KFC, Dell, and Frito-Lay who are opting for sustainable packaging solutions for their products. We now bring the environment-friendly packaging and sustainable approaches of P&G, HUL, H&M, Apple, and Philips.
Procter & Gamble Co. popularly known with its acronym P&G is the United States multinational consumer goods manufacturing company. P&G was founded in the year 1837 and specializes in hygiene and personal care products.
Our aspiration is to positively impact all our stakeholders in each area of our Citizenship work: Ethics & Corporate Responsibility, Community Impact, Diversity & Inclusion, Gender Equality, and Environmental Sustainability.
- David S. Taylor, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
P&G has launched the world’s first completely recyclable shampoo bottle for its product Head & Shoulders. Teaming with the recycling experts- TerraCycle and SUEZ, P&G made this bottle with 25% recycled beach plastic.
The company aims to make more than half a billion Hair Care bottles with 25% PCR plastic (Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic).
Here is the video shared by the company to demonstrate the Head & Shoulders shampoo bottle packaging.
P&G is the pioneer in using Life Cycle Assessment to design Municipal Solid Waste Management. The company is also one of the 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World. Following are the milestones achieved in P&G’s sustainability efforts.
P&G’s sustainable packaging goals:
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is a subsidiary of British-Dutch Unilever company. They have committed to 100% recyclable packaging by 2025.
Our plastic packaging plays a critical role in making our products appealing, safe, and enjoyable for our consumers. Yet it is clear that if we want to continue to reap the benefits of this versatile material, we need to do much more as an industry to help ensure it is managed responsibly and efficiently post consumer-use.
- Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever
HUL is keen on using innovative packaging designs for its product to reduce the use of plastic.
Hennes & Mauritz AB, popular as H&M is a multinational clothing retail company from Sweden. In their 2018 annual report, they mentioned that the brand will transition to 100% sustainable cotton by 2020.
Sustainability is not a task that we can manage on our own; collaboration, new ways of working and joint industry goals are key to accelerating the changes and results needed. Our continued commitment to the United Nations Global Compact and our ongoing collaborative work with stakeholders, including local and global experts and NGOs, are a few examples of how we work to achieve positive change through shared responsibility.
-Karl-Johan Persson, CEO, H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB
The packaging at H&M is 100% circular and renewable. The company is also careful towards using organic chemicals for printing and labelling.
For its cosmetic product and packaging, H&M is using Ecocert certified ingredients.
100% of the company’s commercial business partners have signed a sustainability commitment.
Apple Inc. is a multinational technology company, and also torchbearer when it comes to innovative technology. They revolutionised packaging when they changed it from iPhone 6s to 7. It resulted in 84% less usage in terms of usage of plastic in packaging.
Some people see innovation as change, but we have never really seen it like that. It’s making things better.
-Tim Cook, CEO, Apple Inc.
Apple aims at eliminating toxins at each stage of its process- from design and development to reach out to the end-user. The brand’s green initiative includes eco-friendly packaging as well.
Apple takes responsibility for the energy used to ship and recycle its products. The company reflects this ideology in its packaging. The salient features of packaging at Apple are-
The company has formed Green Chemistry Advisory Board with the world’s leading toxicologists, researchers, and academics.
Koninklijke Philips N.V., stylized as PHILIPS, is one of the world’s largest electronics companies in the world. The company is committed to carbon neutrality for its global operations by 2020.
At Philips, we fully embrace sustainability because of the benefits for societies, and because we believe that it is a driver for economic growth. That’s why we have sustainability incorporated in our company strategy.
-Frans van Houten, CEO, Koninklijke Philips N.V.
The salient features of packaging at Philips are-
Although the combined packaging, transport, and end-of-life phases represent only about a percentage of the company’s total environmental impact, Philips is keen at making that impact a positive one.
In its sustainability drive, Philips is trying to compensate emissions via carbon credits. For attaining sustainability in the complete lifecycle of its products, Philips is collaborating with business partners, NGOs, and stakeholders.
Sustainable packaging’s responsibility doesn’t only fall upon big-name brands and companies. There are a plethora of such organizations who are doing their bit in order to help out the environment.
The crux time has arrived when it comes to changing our practices for the sake of this planet. It is our due diligence to look out for future generations.
The question is, when will you be doing the same? The ball is in your court.
