Legislation and innovation shaping sustainability

14 Sep 2021 --- In the battle to reduce the environmental damage of high levels of consumption, there is increased focus on the big differences companies, producers and governments can make. Although individual actions and responsibilities remain important, the focus is less on the individual and more on how entire industries and societies can better manage resources.

Detailing the history of the US beauty industry’s environmental progress, a spokesperson for the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) says: “Over the past decade, our industry has made meaningful strides in advancing the management of environmental impacts created along the entire value chain and in mitigating industry’s footprint with science-based tools, multi-stakeholder collaborations and systems approaches.” 

Click to EnlargeSource: PCPC.The PCPC currently represents 600 member companies amounting to approximately 90% of the US beauty sector - a US$450bn global cosmetics and personal care products space. Sharing best practices, education, engagement and communication is an important part of the PCPC’s contribution to supporting the industry’s sustainability efforts. 

“The PCPC and our member companies are united in our commitment to operate responsibly and integrate sustainable practices along the entire lifecycle of the products we manufacture and market,” explains a spokesperson for the organization.  

The beauty and personal care industry is now striving to advance and accelerate these tools, collaborations and systems to answer the needs of beauty players and consumers in today’s marketplace. Environmental consciousness is gathering pace, with awareness of the growing necessity for proactive and tangible sustainability solutions in the beauty sector. 

“Public policymakers are looking for solutions to reduce packaging waste and ensure progress towards a circular economy, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, stewardship programs and material bans or use fees,” states the PCPC. 

“We recognize the need for member companies throughout the supply chain to help identify options to contribute to the success of initiatives that increase recycling, materials recovery and in support of the circular economy.”

Legislating and building for change 

Developing a more sustainable system requires widespread action from brand owners and manufacturers, involving governments, suppliers, retailers and consumers. 

“While manufacturers or brand owners have the best opportunity to minimize a product’s negative impacts throughout its lifecycle, true product stewardship recognizes that other stakeholders, including suppliers, retailers and consumers, also have an important role to play,” shares the PCPC’s spokesperson. 

“Governments have a responsibility to ensure waste management systems and infrastructure are in place to provide a solid foundation on which material recycling, recovery and a circular economy can be built,” notes the PCPC. “The beauty industry continues to be sensible and proactive in its efforts to address the potential environmental impacts of its products and packaging.” 

Significant parts of the industry’s sustainability efforts are concentrated on reducing packaging waste and contributing positively towards a circular economy. EPR programs, stewardship programs, and material bans or taxes are leading the way, providing a blueprint for leaders to take proactive steps and tangible actions to improve the presence of sustainable packaging. 

Around the world, countries and companies are making a point of shifting the responsibility away from consumers to governments and brands. This spearheads a top-down approach to create sufficient awareness that places sustainable action and recycling initiatives at the top of the agenda. Education, guidance and communication need to be at the forefront of global sustainable action to avoid misinformation and build confidence that the efforts undertaken are making a real difference. 

Adopting EPR programs is one answer to help promote a top-down leadership-centric approach. EPR policies place the burden of sustainable packaging responsibility on to manufacturers. As a result, it will be the manufacturers who will focus on informing and promoting the use of products and packaging for post-consumer use. In addition, it will aim to move some of the managerial and financial responsibility for a product’s impacts upstream to manufacturers and therefore away from consumers. 

Moving forward, we can expect to see design thinking at the conceptualization stage, incorporating environmental considerations when manufacturers embark on designing their products and packaging. The availability and utilization of innovation is an integral part of the conversation on how the industry can succeed at reducing and eradicating waste.

Click to EnlargeCanadian authorities are working to massively increase recycling capabilities.In Canada, for example, EPR programs are in a state of transformation as noted by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition at its recent Engage 2021 virtual conference. Moving away from only producers paying for municipal recycling services, Canada is now transitioning towards gaining operational control of residents’ recycling systems. As a result, Canada hopes to create opportunities for harmonization between residents and provinces, as well as produce large-scale investment in developing sorting technology throughout the country. At Engage, Usman Valiante from the Corporate Policy Group noted he is “confident the technical and political expertise of the country will support changes for the better.”

A key concern of the sustainability narrative is the use of single-use plastic. In 2021, Chile passed a law relating to single use-plastics and the promotion of reusables, which were not addressed in the previous EPR packaging legislation in 2013. The new legislation is not intended to be an outright ban on single-use plastic, but instead a clear statement highlighting the efforts being made towards regulation. 

The Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 2020 is focused on ensuring Australia's appropriate participation in the global recycling market. Striving to play a positive part in the worldwide efforts to reduce waste, Australia plans to tighten up global market standards with the aim of increasing domestic capacity and reducing the reliance on materials exportation. 

“While industry has made significant progress in the sustainable management of our sector, we understand there is still much more to do,” adds the PCPC. “We know that protecting the planet is a responsibility, not a choice. The past year, more than ever, emphasized the importance and urgency of this work for our companies, our communities and our planet.” 

As the PCPC says: “Policy was identified as a buzzword for the development of the circular economy and paying attention to global insight is especially important to disrupt the current linear model of consumption.” Going “glocal” - where we think globally and act locally - is a key part of today’s sustainability message. 

By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe, BPC Insights Senior Journalist