Burt’s Bees Launches Sustainability Initiatives, Including Net Zero Plastic to Nature Goal
Natural skincare brand Burt’s Bees announced today a series of sustainability commitments, including a new goal to reach Net Zero Plastic to Nature by 2025. The initiatives were announced along with the release of the company’s 2020 Impact Report.
Paula Alexander, Burt’s Bees Senior Director of Sustainability, said:
“Our focus has long been centered on the wellbeing of people and the natural world. The challenges of the pandemic have only heightened the importance of protecting nature as a resource, for the health of people and all life on Earth. That’s why we’ve chosen to focus on systemic changes across our supply chain while working toward a circular economy—to enable a more connected and stable relationship between people and nature.”
Burt’s Bees said that it developed the initiatives it will pursue in order to achieve its net zero plastic goal in alignment with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. These include targets to cut the use of virgin packaging materials, including plastic and fiber, by 33% by 2025, and 50% by 2030, while striving for 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging for all products. The company will also launch its first waste free product, a Truly Glowing Gel Cleanser in a reusable bottle, with zero-waste platform Loop.
Other circular economy-related initiatives announced by the company include joining forces with The Recycling Partnership to fund infrastructure improvements in U.S. municipal recycling systems, investing in plastic waste collection and recycling credits, and aligning measurement and accounting methodology with the recently launched Plastic Waste Reduction Standard.
In addition to the new plastic and circularity initiatives, Burt’s Bees also announced sustainable sourcing commitments, including goals to positively impact 50,000 livelihoods through a series of global supply chain investment projects, as well as undergoing responsible sourcing assessments and third-party audits to help ensure the wellbeing of workers, including upholding human rights along with the highest health, safety and labor standards and practices, as well as business ethics and environmental protection.
Alexander added:
”We envision a world where people are doing well by nature and for nature, without compromise. This is the legacy of our founders who prized nature for its restorative benefits and to this day help preserve wilderness for future generations.”