The recycling challenge: COSSMA

While packaging is often seen as the major threat to our environment, it still plays a key role in our modern way of life. Linda Zhang explains that creating a circular economy is a global responsibility.

Interview with:

Linda Zhang,
Head of R&D,
Henkel Beauty Care Asia Pacific,
Shanghai, China
www.henkel.com

COSSMA: What is your company’s strategy in sustainability?

Linda Zhang, Head of R&D, Henkel Beauty Care Asia Pacific: As sustainability is one of our company’s core values, we are committed to developing and using sustainable packaging solutions – and we are going to continue to drive further progress in order to establish a circular economy for plastic.

By 2025, 100 percent of our consumer goods packaging will be recyclable, reusable or compostable. At the same time, we will use 35 percent recycled plastic for our consumer goods products in Europe. When it comes to promoting a circular economy, we believe in a holistic approach. Together with our partners along the entire value chain, we focus on including materials from sustainable sources into smart packaging designs to close the loop. In this respect, collaboration will be a key factor to success in driving innovation and promoting improved recycling infrastructure. We need to keep in mind that a circular economy cannot be created by a single organisation, business or government alone – it’s a joint responsibility. Progress toward a sustainable future will only be possible if stakeholders from all stages of the value chain work together. This is why we are involved in several cross-industry initiatives such as the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), the New Plastics Economy (NPEC) and the social enterprise Plastic Bank.

Old deodorant and antiperspirant cans collected in 50 public drop-off points were repurposed to create a public outdoor gym in London. photo: Henkel

What have been your company’s major achievements in the field of sustainability?

All of our packaging is designed in such a way that it delivers the performance expected by the consumer while using the least possible amount of the most sustainable materials. Our packaging engineers work closely with partners along the entire value chain.

Can you please provide us with some examples?

Together with our supplier Ampacet, we developed a new solution for black plastic packaging that is fully recyclable. The new packaging material uses an alternative carbon-free black colour, enabling used bottles to be integrated back into the value chain.

Another example is our cooperation with the social enterprise Plastic Bank, which aims to stop ocean plastic and provides opportunities for people in poverty. We were the first major global fast-moving consumer goods company to partner with this social enterprise, and to integrate the recycled “Social Plastic” in product packaging.

Not only smart packaging and recycling are necessary aspects for Henkel when thinking about sustainability, but ingredients also play an important role – especially in our Beauty Care business. Our organic beauty brand N.A.E Naturale Antice Erboristeria draws its origin from Italian herbalism. The vegan products are certified organic by Ecocert according to Cosmos Organic standard and all formulas contain a minimum of 97% of natural ingredients, and with our hair and body care brand Nature Box, we have just launched vegan, silicone- and paraben-free shampoo and body bars that are not available in plastic bottles, but in paper cartons which are recyclable.

The new fully recyclable bottles with the carbon-free black colour can be integrated back into the value chain. Photo: Henkel

What are the major challenges in achieving sustainability in ingredients and packaging?

Plastic is currently one of the most discussed environmental issues in the world. Whether it is plastic waste in oceans, rivers or on land – there is no question that we have to stop plastic waste in our environment. To achieve this, everyone needs to contribute. While packaging certainly presents several challenges and is often seen as the major threat to our environment, it still plays a key role in our modern way of life. Without it, most products would expire or get damaged before arriving in a store. Packaging extends the shelf-life of food products, keeps oxygen away from superglue or toothpaste so it doesn’t harden or dry out in the tube and can simplify application. It also provides important information about how to use products in the safest and most environmentally responsible way possible. Therefore, our packaging experts are working together to create packaging that is as sustainable as possible – so that plastic waste can be channelled into well thought-out recycling systems that again turn waste into valuable resources. The challenge for our packaging designers is to find sustainable alternatives to virgin materials that still offer the same performance in terms of keeping products hygienic and undamaged, and enabling consumers to use the product in an easy and environmentally responsible way. Often, the physical properties of recycled plastics are inferior to those of virgin materials. Good quality recycled materials are only available in limited quantities and in order to use 100% recycled materials, it is necessary to step up the recycling infrastructure, which is a process.

For us, as a major globally active company, it is also an important aspect that from an international perspective, there are major differences in collection and recycling systems worldwide. While some countries have established recycling systems, other regions still lack the necessary infrastructure. Accordingly, the proper recycling of packaging is a global challenge. To achieve this, all partners in the value chain must work together. Therefore, we are working together with other partners to promote a recycling economy.

Shampoo and body bars are packaged in recyclable paper cartons. Photo: Henkel

What do you think of upcycling and is upcycling an option in your company?

We are proud to be the first global consumer good company to partner with Plastic Bank. The idea behind this concept is that the local population in for example Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world, can return collected plastic waste and exchange it for money, goods, or services. The material is then integrated back into the plastic value chain as Social Plastic.

Another interesting example for upcycling at our company is the first ever gym made from recycled aerosol cans in the United Kingdom. The community gym in London was created in cooperation with the recycling company TerraCyle, the Great Outdoor Gym Company and our beauty care brand Right Guard. We have set up 50 public drop-off points in communities across the country to collect old deodorant and antiperspirant cans, which then were repurposed to create a public outdoor gym in London.