10/7/2022
Thousands of companies promise to crackdown on plastic, recycling and the environment for Plastic Free July, but can you spot the true difference between activism and greenwashing? The Body Shop has made it easier than ever to be confident in going green for the planet this year, by teaming up with Savoo to support the Marine Conservation Society.
Not only is The Body Shop raising vital funds for the Marine Conservation Society on every The Body Shop discount code used on Savoo, but they have their own zero-plastic initiatives that mean your purchase will be doubly kind to the world’s sealife.
Do something truly good for the planet during Plastic Free month: reduce harmful plastic and protect the world’s oceans, all while filling up your bathroom with your favourite The Body Shop goodies.
Why Plastic Free July?
It’s no secret that the world is drowning in plastic waste. From the seas to the rainforests: not one ecosystem has managed to escape the massive reliance industry has on plastic.
The health of the oceans is vitally important to all life on earth, but according to the Marine Conservation Society…
- Less than 1% of seas on earth are well-managed
- Every year, 8-13 million tonnes of plastic enters the ocean*
- In 2040 this is estimated to be 29 million metric tonnes
- *Excluding an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of microplastics which also enter the ocean each year
What makes The Body Shop’s packaging so great?
The Body Shop team have developed their packaging to contain plant-based and recycled plastics, meaning it comes from 100% repurposed origins. Not only that, but products that use this packaging are 100% recyclable! Recycling was found to be one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gases - 25 times less than incineration - which places strain on habitats like the rainforest, as well as the thousands of species that call the rainforest their home. (Tellus Institute, 2008)
By 2025, every single one of their bath, body, and hair products will be contained in recycled packaging, so just imagine the impact you could have by switching to The Body Shop! But their recycled plastic packaging isn’t like other companies’. The Body Shop use community fair trade recycled plastic that benefits both the planet, and the people that live on it.
What is Community Fair Trade recycled plastic?
Community Fair Trade recycled plastic is plastic that is sourced fairly from people called waste pickers in Bengaluru, India. There are more than 1.5 million waste pickers in India alone, possibly due to the enormous amount of municipal solid waste (in other words, everyday rubbish) generated across India - an enormous 110 million metric tonnes (Statista). Of that 110 million tonnes, almost ⅓ of waste goes uncollected.
A report found that the tireless effort of waste pickers contributes to 58% of plastic waste collection (Cook & Velis, 2021). By buying recycled plastics from the group ‘Green Force’ in Bengaluru, The Body Shop significantly reduces their contribution to ocean ecosystem damage. The Body Shop also improves the lives of people in Bengaluru by working with Plastics for Change and NGO Hasiru Dala to set fair prices and improve the waste pickers’ working conditions.
How does your purchase help to make a difference?
By choosing a sustainable option when you purchase your bath and body products, you’ll reduce the amount that ends up polluting the oceans, washing up on beaches, or ending up in incineration plants that smother the environment and kill wildlife.
When you shop at The Body Shop using our exclusive 10% off discount code from the 11th of July, a donation worth 12% of your order value will be donated to the Marine Conservation Society, completely free of cost to you! Here’s how your donation will be put to use protecting the planet:
The Marine Conservation Society
The Marine Conservation Society has existed for more than 30 years. It campaigns, fundraises and mobilises volunteers to…
- Influence politicians and businesses to make policy, legislative and practical changes for a healthier ocean.
- Promote sustainable fishing and seafood to minimise harm.
- Stop plastic and pollution entering the ocean.
- Secure ocean spaces where species and habitats can recover.
- Educate people and businesses to make the best decisions to safeguard the ocean's future.