COMMUNITY TRADE RECYCLED PLASTIC
At The Body Shop, we’re committed to tackling the plastic crisis differently. Discover how we’re fighting for people and the planet with Community Trade recycled plastic from Bengaluru, India. Our trade will help empower the waste pickers we support with access to more sanitary working conditions, a fair price and the respect and recognition they deserve.
HOW DOES PLASTIC WASTE AFFECT PEOPLE?
3 BILLION PEOPLE
Over 3 billion people around the planet are living in countries without waste management – that’s almost half of the world’s population.
1.5 MILLION WASTE PICKERS
India alone has 1.5 million ‘waste pickers’ working in the informal sector to clean up their streets and cities.
Pictured left to right: Lilly Dibi & Naseema Bibi
PLASTIC PRICES ARE VOLATILE
In 2015, the price waste pickers received for plastic they collected* dropped by 60%. The price has recently dropped even further.
WASTE PICKERS ARE VULNERABLE
‘Waste pickers’ are vulnerable to harassment by the police, constant displacement and no access to health and financial services. It’s time to empower, support and celebrate them.
Pictured above: Mamata
*60% price drop data provided by Plastics For Change, based on their research.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO HELP?
WHERE DO WE BUY OUR PLASTIC?
MEET THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR PARTNERSHIP POSSIBLE
WHAT WILL WE DO WITH THE RECYCLED PLASTIC WE BUY?
We’ve started using our Community Trade recycled plastic in our 250ml Shampoo and Conditioner bottles.***
After our plastic is collected and sorted in waste segregation centres, it is cleaned, compressed into bales and transported to Europe where it is converted, rigorously cleaned and sterilised. The resultant resin is tested to food grade standards and is then converted into granules and recycled back into our bottles. In the future, we want to buy even more Community Trade recycled plastic from our partners so we can use it in more of our product packaging and strive to be even more sustainable.
We know we’ve got a long way to go, but don’t worry. This is just the start of our Community Trade partnership and our commitment to tackling the plastic crisis. Who knows what we can achieve together next?
***100% recycled plastic with 15% Community Trade recycled plastic, excluding our bottle caps.