Beauty for a better world: Shiseido’s R Plus Japan investment to accelerate used plastic recycling promotion

15 Feb 2022 --- Global beauty giant Shiseido Company plans to make an equity investment in R Plus Japan Limited to engage in recycling used plastics as part of the company bolstering its sustainability pledge.

It comes as Shiseido has also modified its Group Procurement Policy to ensure sustainable and responsible exchange of goods with suppliers.

The policy outlines strict requirements concerning environmental and human rights. The method of doing so is examining suppliers by third-party audits with a central focus on sustainability.

Placing sustainability in the center of business management has led the company to reduce its environmental impact.

Currently, Shiseido is addressing marine debris. The company’s medium-term goals will target carbon dioxide emissions, palm oil, paper, water and waste. By 2025, it aims to make all product containers 100% sustainable.

Shiseido's partnership with R Plus Japan Limited to recycle used plastics will enable chemical recycling, where plastics can be melted and be reshaped to be reused.

“Beauty innovation for a better world” drives Shiseido’s long and short-term vision, notes the company.

The company is said to focus on three strategic actions: reducing its environmental footprint, developing sustainable products and promoting sustainable and responsible procurement. It aims to implement refillability/re-attachability to its products.

Innova Market Insights finds, the planet’s health is a top concern for consumers which has pegged “Shared Planet” as its Top Ten Trend for 2022.

Assessments for transparent supply chain
Shiseido believes that good partnerships and collaborations are essential to resolve social issues, including environmental and human rights violations. Shiseido operates in approximately 120 countries and regions around the world.

The need for better and transparent means of exchange drives the creation of the policy. It aims to minimize risks from upstream suppliers across its supply chain.

Shiseido outlines four central values as requirements from its suppliers. It includes respect for human rights, safe and healthy work environment, protection of the environment and assurance of quality and traceability. Violation of these values by suppliers will be considered high-risk.

The policy outlines a process to eliminate risks: Only starting business with new suppliers after conducting risk assessments. The evaluation of existing suppliers will be done on a regular basis.

Shiseido will conduct third-party audits if a supplier turns out to be high risk. In cases of non-conformity, the supplier will be requested to correct themselves within a given timeframe. In the case of no correction, Shiseido will consider canceling the business exchange.

In other sustainability moves, beauty company Maybelline has formed a conscious together program and Clarins becomes a member of the Union for Ethical Biotrade for ethical sourcing of ingredients.

Edited by Venya Patel

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