AS Watson, the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, is strengthening its plastic-reduction ambition with an enhanced commitment under the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment 2030. The company is pledging to reduce virgin plastic in its own-brand packaging by 21% by 2030, using 2022 as the baseline year.
This renewed target, now featured on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment website, reinforces AS Watson’s leadership in advancing a circular economy and tackling plastic waste across its global footprint.
Strategic Actions for Sustainable Packaging
The commitment covers four key sources of own-brand packaging: product packaging, in-store carrier bags, online business parcels, and single-use plastics in warehouses —areas where AS Watson can make the greatest impact. To achieve this ambitious goal, AS Watson will step up efforts to eliminate unnecessary packaging, increase the use of recycled plastic content, promote packaging that is more recyclable or reusable, and expand refill and reuse systems across its global operations.
Sebastien Pivet, Chief Sustainability Officer & QA Director of AS Watson, said, “Reducing plastic waste is one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time, and retailers have a responsibility to lead this transition. 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. By expanding refill and reuse systems and increasing recycled content, we’re making significant progress towards reducing plastic waste from our operations.”
Sebastien added, “As AS Watson celebrates its 185th anniversary, this milestone reinforces the company’s long-standing commitment to making a positive impact across its global operations. Sustainability shapes every decision we make, and it will continue to guide how we innovate and grow responsibly alongside our customers and communities.”
Turning Commitment into Impact
To bring this plastics reduction target to life, AS Watson has been translating its ambition into tangible changes in packaging design across its retail brands and markets.
To name a few examples, in Asia, Watsons China has strengthened its commitment to sustainable packaging by redesigning product packaging. Plastic windows were removed from collagen hand cream gift packs, saving 2.36 tons of plastic, and plastic trays were replaced with FSC-certified paper trays in collagen hand and body care packs, saving another 5.26 tons. In Europe, Superdrug has redesigned the packaging for the Naturally Radiant range by removing laminated mirror board. All cartons are now fully recyclable and FSC certified, and every SKU contains at least 30% recycled plastic content.
AS Watson calls on businesses, industry peers and partner suppliers to join the 2030 Plastics Agenda for Business and work together to reduce plastic waste and pollution. By working together across the value chain and inspiring customers to choose more sustainable products, AS Watson believes the retail sector can scale circular packaging solutions and deliver meaningful environmental benefits.
