Samenvatting

Since its invention, synthetic plastic has been used increasingly in everyday life. Many industries make use of this easily shaped product, mainly for packaging purposes. In addition, many products such as shower gels, scrubs, and other personal care products contain micro plastic particles. The increasing usage of plastics has created an environmental problem. Plastics cannot be dissolved and they pollute the environment by being discarded everywhere, ending up as landfill waste. Or, as for the tiny plastic particles, end up in oceanic garbage patches, more commonly known as plastic soup. The main focus of this research report is reduction of plastic waste produced by companies in the European cosmetic industry.
This research evolves around the following research question: ‘How can companies in the European cosmetic industry contribute to the reduction of plastic waste? A comparison of three case studies.’ A mixed-method approach has been applied. Quantitative research by means of desk research and benchmarking based on publicly available company data sources and qualitative research by means of in-depth interviews have been used.
As preliminary research shows, plastic waste is an obvious contribution to current environmental problems. Information on the use of plastics in the cosmetic industry gave more insight into the grave problem the world is facing and the necessity of solving this problem. Within this research, several approaches related to general waste management theories are utilised. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has developed one such model to assess different strategies towards more sustainable business practices in terms of waste treatment. The strategies displayed in this particular waste management model range from the most, to least preferred strategies with regard to sustainable environmental solutions. The three largest companies of the European cosmetic industry, i.e. Beiersdorf, L’Oréal and Unilever, have been benchmarked by use of this model. The aim was to discover the best approaches to waste reduction in addition to direct action companies can take to transform their current business into more sustainable practises. Overall scores on sustainability have been awarded to all three companies.
The research has shown that reduction of plastic waste can be best derived by implementing waste management strategies such as prevention and reduction. Examples of strategies are the usage of alternative biodegradable materials and the reduction of plastic packaging. The main outcome of this study highlights that most companies have failed to implemented the two most preferred strategies. However, Unilever holds the highest overall score in comparison to the other companies analysed and best practises can be found at this company.Unilever has a new packaging technique
Care for a Sustainable Planet Marjolein Koehler 09075542
The Hague University of Applied Sciences - European Studies iii
that reduces plastic material. By waiving the exclusive rights Unilever allows other (cosmetic) companies to adopt their technique. In order to achieve a more sustainable world, it is of utmost importance for companies to work together in the field of prevention and reduction of plastic waste. Cooperation in order to find the best preventive and plastic reduction strategies can be seen as a step forwards to reach this goal. The answer to the main research question ‘How can companies in the European cosmetic industry contribute to the decrease of plastic waste?’ is: by implementing more preferred waste management strategies, such as prevention and/or reduction methods and by cooperating and communicating more transparently. These approaches together can eventually lead to a more sustainable world with less plastic waste.