The Body Shop has launched its first Community Trade fighting Plastic Pollution

Keeping in mind the devastating effect of plastic waste in our environment, The Body Shop has launched its first Community Trade recycled plastic, in partnership with Plastics For Change, Hasiru Dala & Hasiru Dala Innovations. Community Trade is The Body Shop’s bespoke and independently-verified fair trade programme. Launched on World Fair Trade Day, this is a commitment to tackling the plastic crisis differently.

To mark this launch, the company has unveiled a giant artwork of a female Indian waste picker in London’s Borough Market.  Made by perceptual artist Michael Murphy, using recycled plastic collected by waste pickers in Bengaluru, the artwork was made available for public display.

With over three decades of working with disadvantaged communities around the world, The Body Shop is applying its expertise to help tackle in the plastic crisis.

It has started using Community Trade recycled plastic in its 250ml haircare bottles. In 2019, it will purchase 250 tonnes of Community Trade recycled plastic to use in nearly three million 250ml haircare bottles. The bottles will contain 100% recycled plastic (excluding the bottle caps).  15% of that will be Community Trade recycled plastic, the remainder will be recycled plastic from European sources. 

It has launched its in-store recycling programme – BBOB (Bring Back Our Bottles), encouraging customers to return empty plastic packaging in stores for recycling. It’s currently operational across 40 stores. Planned as a pan-India initiative, it is a significant step for the brand towards valuing plastic & protecting the environment. With global recycling pioneers TerraCycle, The Body Shop is making recycling empty packaging easier & more accessible than ever before.

The Body Shop will increase the amount of Community Trade Recycled plastic over time. Working with a start-up company and small waste picker communities, it means to start small and scale up slowly and sustainably. In three years, the aim is to purchase over 900 tonnes of Community Trade recycled plastic and help empower up to 2,500 waste pickers in Bengaluru. They will receive a fair price for their work, a predictable income and access to better working conditions. They will also get help in accessing services such as education, financial loans and healthcare.