Pure Beauty

A.S. Watson reveals fresh sustainability goals for 2030

By Austyn King | Published: 17-Mar-2021

The owner of Superdrug and The Perfume Shop has pledged to remove all unnecessary packaging from its products and cut greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the decade

A.S. Watson has unveiled its plans to make the world a better place for its 5.9 billion customers with its 2030 Sustainability Vision and renewed social purpose goals.

The retail conglomerate, which owns Superdrug and The Perfume Shop, has has pledged to eliminate unnecessary packaging across all of its 13 brands by 2030, phasing out the use of PVC and aiming to use 20% recycled plastic in all its plastic packaging by 2025.

It also plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% and reduce its electricity intensity by 30% compared to 2015 by the end of the decade.

Malina Ngai, Group COO of A.S. Watson Group & CEO of A.S. Watson (Asia & Europe), said: “As the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, we have a strong sense of responsibility to create a better world through our global operations.

“We serve over 5.9 billion customers every year around the world and we are thankful to have a powerful community to do good together, to help build a better and more sustainable world.”

Positive vibes

Meanwhile, as part of its ongoing mission to put a smile back on customers' faces, the health and beauty giant will also provide 10,000 free surgeries to children with cleft lips and palates by 2030.

The news comes as the company's Smile Community, which kicked off last year to promote mental wellness and spread positivity amid troubling times, has achieved its goal of reaching a 1.8 million 'smile index' by 20 March, coinciding with the United Nations' International Day of Happiness.

As part of its ongoing 180th anniversary celebrations, A.S. Watson said it will also organise 180 caring actions through initiatives across its network of stores, in a bid to make a positive impact on its global community.

Ngai added: “At A.S. Watson, we believe the world is better when people are smiling.

“People’s mental health has been inevitably stressed by the pandemic and by putting a smile on the face of everyone we touch, we are grateful to have all of our people working together to aim at a higher purpose for the long term.

“The A.S. Watson 2030 Sustainability Vision is a promise we pledge to our planet and community to make the world a better place to live.”

The latest announcements build on A.S. Watson's efforts to aid those most in need during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last year, the company donated more than Hong Kong dollars HKD60m to support 1 million underprivileged people around the world, while Superdrug joined the NHS' fight against Covid-19 by offering vaccinations in its pharmacies.

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