How The Body Shop of UK Empowered Recycling Startup in India

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It’s a recycling revolution in Bengaluru city with a strategic partnership of The Body Shop of the United Kingdom and Indian startup called Plastics for Change. The duo has an aim to transform lives and protect our planet.

Plastics for Change was founded in 2015 by Shifrah Jacobs and Andrew Almack. They had vision of creating a fair trade platform for recycled plastic. They mainly wanted to connect waste pickers in India with global brands. This means the discarded plastic is focused into converting to high-quality recycled packaging. This also means environment cleaning and providing sufficient income to 2 million waste pickers across India.

The journey for the founders was not easy. They faced challenges convincing The Body Shop to partner with Plastics for Change. The process resulted positive after years of dedication and seven trips to The Body Shop’s headquarters. The Body Shop finally saw potential in the Indian startup and thereafter joined hands in 2019.

The achievement in partnering was a game-changer for Plastics for Change. The Body Shop brought has an experience of more than 30 years in fair trade and supply chains.

Shifrah Jacobs said that The Body Shop provided expertise to them and also guaranteed to purchase the recycled raw materials. This was crucial for them in building a stable and sustainable business model.

The Body Shop educated them based on the European standards for plastic and ensured safe and food-grade plastics were used in cosmetics packaging.

The Body Shop simultaneously helped the startup in understanding the complexities of the recycling industry. The learning including removing PVC labels on bottles and creating transparent systems with mobile apps for waste tracking. It provided all the required tools to succeed in the industry.

1. A Vision for Sustainability

The Body Shop has consistently advocated for eco-friendly practices, including reducing waste and promoting recycling. As part of its global vision to combat plastic pollution, the brand sought innovative ways to address the issue in emerging markets like India, where waste management infrastructure often struggles to keep pace with rapid urbanization.

This vision led to the partnership with a recycling startup, aligning with The Body Shop’s goal of making its supply chain more sustainable while fostering local entrepreneurship.

2. Identifying the Right Partner

The Body Shop collaborated with a grassroots recycling startup in India that was making strides in managing post-consumer plastic waste. This startup worked closely with marginalized communities, including waste pickers, who play a critical but often undervalued role in India’s informal recycling sector.

By partnering with this organization, The Body Shop not only supported efficient waste management but also provided a platform for empowering these communities through dignified employment opportunities.

3. Funding and Resources

The Body Shop extended financial support and technical expertise to the recycling startup, helping them scale operations and improve waste segregation and recycling techniques. The brand’s investment enabled the startup to procure advanced machinery, enhance their facilities, and create a sustainable business model.

This funding also contributed to training programs for waste pickers, equipping them with the skills needed to sort and process plastic more effectively, ultimately increasing their earning potential.

4. Incorporating Recycled Materials

One of the most impactful aspects of this collaboration was The Body Shop’s commitment to incorporating recycled plastic from the startup into its product packaging. This initiative, part of the brand’s “Return, Recycle, Repeat” program, set a precedent for using post-consumer recycled materials in mainstream product lines.

By creating demand for recycled materials, The Body Shop not only supported the startup’s operations but also encouraged other businesses to adopt similar practices.

5. Social and Environmental Impact

The collaboration yielded significant results, both environmentally and socially:

  • Reduction in Plastic Waste: The partnership facilitated the recycling of tons of plastic waste, preventing it from polluting landfills and water bodies.
  • Community Empowerment: Hundreds of waste pickers, who are often marginalized and work under harsh conditions, benefitted from improved working environments and fair wages.
  • Consumer Awareness: The initiative also helped raise awareness among consumers about the importance of recycling and sustainable packaging.

6. A Model for Corporate Responsibility

The Body Shop’s collaboration with the Indian recycling startup serves as a model for corporate responsibility. It highlights how global companies can leverage their resources and influence to create meaningful, localized impacts.

By integrating sustainability into its core operations and partnering with socially conscious startups, The Body Shop has demonstrated that businesses can be both profitable and purpose-driven.

Conclusion

The Body Shop’s empowering collaboration with a recycling startup in India exemplifies how ethical business practices can drive environmental and social change. This partnership not only advanced The Body Shop’s sustainability goals but also transformed the lives of waste-picking communities and inspired other corporations to adopt similar initiatives.

As businesses across the globe grapple with sustainability challenges, this success story serves as a powerful reminder that collaboration, innovation, and purpose-driven actions can make a lasting difference.

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