AS Watson Raises the Bar on Plastics Reduction with Refreshed 21% Virgin Plastic Reduction Target by 2030

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

Scope (own-brand packaging):

• Product packaging

• In-store carrier bags

• Online business parcels

• Single-use plastics in warehouses

How AS Watson will deliver:

• Eliminate unnecessary packaging

• Increase the use of recycled plastic content

• Promote packaging that is more recyclable or reusable

• Expand refill and reuse systems across 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.

• Asia – Watsons China

  • Removed plastic windows from collagen hand cream gift packs, saving 2.36 tons of plastic.

  • Replaced plastic trays with FSC-certified paper trays in collagen hand and body care packs, saving 5.26 tons of plastic.

• Europe – Superdrug

  • Redesigned 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.

• Philippines – Watsons Philippines

  “At Watsons Philippines, we support this campaign by transitioning our stores from plastic to paper bags and encouraging customers to bring reusable bags. We are also expanding the distribution of our Recycle for Rewards bins, inviting customers to return empty personal care plastic bottles, while promoting our better packaging, refill packs, and reuse products both in-store and via the Watsons app, making sustainable choices easy and accessible for Filipino customers,” said Danilo Chiong, Managing Director of Watsons Philippines.

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 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.

About Watsons Philippines

Watsons is the flagship health and beauty brand of A.S. Watson Group, the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer. Today, the company operates over 16,900 stores across 12 retail brands in 30 markets, employing 130,000 people globally.

In 2002, A.S. Watson Group joined hands with SM, the Philippines’ leading shopping mall developer. The partners brought about the first Watsons stores in SM Megamall and The Podium (Ortigas) and have since seen rapid growth. Today, Watsons operates more than 1,200 stores in the Philippines (as of January 2025).

Watsons strives to ensure that its customers get the best value for their money through monthly promotions, special offers, and continuous consumer marketing programs. Each Watsons store houses the best brands from top manufacturers worldwide and also carries its own competitively priced, high-quality private labels and brands. With more than 1,000 brands ranging from medicines, cosmetics, and fragrances to personal care items and general merchandise, Watsons – Your Personal Store delivers leading health, wellness, and beauty solutions to every customer.