AS Watson, the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, is strengthening its plastics-reduction ambition under the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment 2030, pledging to cut virgin plastic in its own-brand packaging by 21% by 2030, using 2022 as the baseline year.
The refreshed target, now listed on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment website, reinforces AS Watson’s leadership in advancing a circular economy and addressing plastic waste across its global operations.
Strategic actions for sustainable packaging
The commitment focuses on four major sources of own-brand packaging: product packaging, in-store carrier bags, online parcels and single-use plastics in warehouses — areas where AS Watson can make the greatest impact. To meet its goal, the company will further eliminate unnecessary packaging, increase recycled plastic content, promote recyclable and reusable packaging, and expand refill and reuse systems across its markets.
“Reducing plastic waste is one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time, and retailers have a responsibility to lead this transition,” said Sebastien Pivet, chief sustainability officer and QA director of AS Watson. “By setting an ambitious 21% reduction target for virgin plastic in our own-brand packaging by 2030, we are turning our 185-year legacy of care into clear, measurable actions that cut plastic at source across all our markets.”
Pivet added that expanding refill and reuse systems and increasing recycled content are key steps toward significantly reducing plastic waste from operations.
“As AS Watson celebrates its 185th anniversary, this milestone reinforces our long-standing commitment to making a positive impact globally,” he said. “Sustainability shapes every decision we make and will continue to guide how we innovate and grow responsibly alongside our customers and communities.”
Turning commitment into impact
AS Watson has begun translating its plastics target into tangible changes across its retail brands and markets.
In Asia, Watsons China redesigned product packaging by removing plastic windows from collagen hand cream gift packs, saving 2.36 tons of plastic, and replacing plastic trays with FSC-certified paper trays in collagen hand and body care packs, saving an additional 5.26 tons. In Europe, Superdrug redesigned packaging for its Naturally Radiant range by removing laminated mirror boards, making all cartons fully recyclable and FSC certified, with each SKU containing at least 30% recycled plastic.
“At Watsons Philippines, we support this campaign by transitioning from plastic to paper bags and encouraging customers to bring reusable bags,” said Danilo Chiong, managing director of Watsons Philippines. “We are also expanding our Recycle for Rewards bins and promoting refill packs and reuse products both in-store and through the Watsons app, making sustainable choices easy and accessible for Filipino customers.”
AS Watson is urging businesses, industry peers and suppliers to join the 2030 Plastics Agenda for Business, emphasizing that collaboration across the value chain is key to reducing plastic waste and scaling circular packaging solutions.