Beauty companies partner for 1st green joint business plan in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — In the beauty and wellness sectors, plastic waste is a sustainability problem that has been difficult to solve.

The question remains: how does one totally eliminate plastic packaging in products such as shampoo, conditioner and liquid soap?

"Two heads are better than one," as the popular saying goes, and two internationally known beauty brands have joined forces to kick off the first green joint business plan in the Philippine beauty and wellness sectors.

French personal care company L’Oréal and Hong Kong health and beauty chain store Watsons have partnered up to create programs that will help tackle plastic waste, raise awareness on sustainable choices, and provide livelihood opportunities for the vulnerable population in the Philippines.    

“This first green joint business plan in the Philippines is a historic milestone in the long-standing partnership between L’Oréal and Watsons in the Philippines. Beyond our responsible business practices, I’m very proud that we are coming together to be catalysts for change by acting with urgency and helping solve the pressing environmental and social issues in the Philippines. It’s the right thing to do,” said Yannick Raynaud, Country Managing Director of L’Oréal Philippines.

Danilo Chiong, Managing Director of Watsons in the Philippines, also shared his support for the partnership. “At Watsons, we have updated our brand promise from ‘Look Good, Feel Great’ to ‘Look Good, Do Good, Feel Great’ to signify our strong commitment to do more sustainable practices. This first-ever green joint business plan is a comprehensive approach to driving collective impact to our planet, our people, and our products. I am inspired by the work we are doing and the positive impact that we can drive in the Philippines, and hope that programs like this can inspire other companies to do what is right for the environment.”

Plastic pollution is a major challenge in the Philippines. In 2022, the Philippine government implemented the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) 1 Bill for the recovery and management of post-consumer recycled plastic. In 2023, the French company was able to recover, upcycle, and recycle 100% of its