Cosnova argues Plastics For Change, the association whose mission is to develop and expand two sea plastic waste collection centers in Mangalore and Bangalore, India.
Plastics For Change enables industry partners to move to a circular economy while measuring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The company works with global brands and manufacturers to catalyze true change in the communities that need it most. Plastics For Change is expanding its plastic recycling centers to coastal communities to create positive change through responsible supply chains.
Kosnova, a German cosmetics company, with a subsidiary in Italy, supports the Plastics For Change organization with a donation from dollars 35.000. With the support of Cosnova, the ethical procurement platform has expanded two plastic waste collection centers in Indian waters since early 2020. The goal of cooperation is
recycle discarded plastic and, at the same time, support the working conditions of local people.
The workers here select the recyclable materials collected, remove the labels and turn them into a high-quality base for recyclates, i.e. raw materials regenerated plastics, which can then serve a new purpose as recycled packaging.
Plastics “For Change is proud to partner with Cosnova on this exciting project. Unlike many Western countries, emerging countries like India they have no access to formal waste management systems. Unorganized groups of recyclers use raw technology which results in material recycling and they also use
exploitation practices. This contribution marks an important milestone in our mission to formalize the informal economy of recycling, ”he says Andrew Almack, CEO of Plastics For Change.
“Plastics For Change brings dignity to recyclers in the supply chain and makes a valuable contribution to recycling management, environmental protection and fair trade. The recyclable materials obtained are
of the highest quality and in the future they will be able to help us produce even more packaging from recycled material ”. Maximilian Peters, Cosnova Senior Business Manager
The donation has already made it possible to purchase a conveyor belt, a label removal machine at the Mangalore site and increase occupational safety. Among other things, the initiative limited workers' daily working hours to eight hours and ensured compliance with local laws.
Productivity has also increased more than three times. The next steps of the joint project are the expansion of the plant in Bangalore and further training in occupational safety and health.
Kosnova is also committed to the increased use of recycled materials and has set an ambitious goal of producing at least 50% of its packaging from recycled or renewable raw materials by 2025. In the long run, this will save 80% of 60% greenhouse gas energy. “Our plans also include future use of Plastics For Change processed recycled material in product packaging for our brands. We are already planning various trials with our suppliers, ”explains Maximilian Peters.
However, Cosnova's commitment to plastic recycling does not end with product packaging: for example, the cosmetic company uses recycled inserts in beauty benches of its Catrice brand in retail stores since the beginning of this year. The goal is precisely to reduce the use of "virgin plastics" and to use mainly recycled materials. In the first half of 2020, 13 tons of plastic were saved in the Catrice benches.
Article Cosnova supports "Plastics For Change" From The Journal of Beauty.
