L’Oréal and Watsons announce last week the launch of the Recycle for Rewards Program, a plastic collection and recycling initiative that aims to educate and encourage consumers to be part of the solution to the plastic pollution in the Philippines by recycling their empty beauty and personal care bottles.
About nine billion tons of virgin plastics have been produced globally since 1950, according to reports, but only 9 percent of them have been recycled. Much of the world’s plastic waste ends up in the ocean and Philippines has been labelled as the third biggest source of ocean plastic pollution.1
While Filipino Gen Zs and millennials have heightened environmental consciousness and have started incorporating sustainable practices in their daily routine, the Philippines still has limited recycling infrastructure to address the mismanagement of plastic waste. 2
As part of their Green Joint Business Plan announced in April, L’Oréal and Watsons are teaming up to create more plastic collection points and support recycling efforts in the country while inspiring and incentivizing consumers to recycle.
“The Recycle for Rewards program is more than just a recycling initiative—it’s a platform that underscores the importance of collaboration and demonstrates that companies and consumers can become catalysts for change in helping tackle the plastic pollution in the Philippines,” said Yannick Raynaud, country managing director of L’Oréal Philippines.
“The Recycle for Rewards program reaffirms Watsons Philippines’ dedication to sustainability. This enables us to provide our customers accessible and convenient recycling solutions, highlighting the power of collective action in tackling plastic pollution”, said Sharon Decapia, head of the sustainability department of Watsons Philippines.
Consumers can join the program by collecting at least five clean and empty beauty or personal care plastic containers and dropping them off at the recycling bins available in any participating Watsons stores in Metro Manila.
Consumers are directed snap a photo of the empty plastic bottles next to the bin as proof of participation and show it to the cashier to avail of P50 discount on their next purchase. Discount can be redeemed with every P500 purchase of Garnier, Maybelline, and/or L’Oréal Paris products.
The Recycle for Rewards program this year is available in 23 Watsons stores located throughout Metro Manila. More stores will be unveiled in the coming year.
In partnership with PCX Markets, a credit marketplace for plastic waste recovery, plastics collected from the initiative are donated to select sites of Aling Tindera, a community plastic collection program, where they are recycled and/or upcycled to prevent plastic waste from leaking into open environment.
