Watsons Philippines continues sustainability initiatives
AS climate change becomes more evident today with rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions often unfolding, environmental consciousness is at all-time high.
This in mind, health, wellness, and beauty retailer Watsons Philippines reaffirms it dedication to promote sustainable living.
At the heart of Watsons Philippines’ sustainability efforts is the “Sustainable Choices” program. This initiative empowers customers to make environmentally conscious decisions by providing a thoughtfully selected range of products that meet stringent sustainability criteria.
“Our program is about doing good not just for the community — of course, we’ve taken steps to that as well — but we’re also consciously now doing good for the planet. We’re now at 1,114 [and counting] stores in the Philippines and we target to end the year with 18 more. For a company as big ours, it’s not so easy to transition into a sustainable practice. But we made that commitment to really go towards more sustainable practices,” said Sharon Decapia, Watsons Senior AVP for Marketing, PR and Sustainability.
From offerings in Clean Beauty and Better Packaging categories with reduced plastics to refill packs and ethically-sourced ingredients, each item shows the company’s dedication to reducing its environmental impact while prioritizing customer satisfaction.
Through this initiative and other projects, Watsons Philippines hopes to inspire its customers and employees to be more mindful consumers and citizens of the planet.
Among Watsons’ notable projects was the “Reuse with Watsons: A Sustainability Art Exhibit,” which served to highlight the significance of the 3Rs — reduce, reuse and recycle.
The artworks featured in the exhibit integrated plastic bottles, wrappers, papers, carton boxes, tissues, blister packs, metals, makeup sponges, foams and other upcycled materials.
In 2023, Watsons also conducted five Alagang Pangkalusugan Medical missions, providing free medical consultations, blood tests, bone screenings, hearing checks, skin and hair analyses, ECGs and X-rays, benefiting over 4,000 individuals.
AS Watson’s Next Gen Sustainability Committee and Watsons Philippines also jointly participated in a medical mission in the Philippines in October. With exclusive sponsorship from AS Watson, 60 patients received lifechanging surgeries carried out by medical professionals from Operation Smile.
Watsons Philippines’ goal is to perform 3,300 corrective surgeries on children with cleft conditions in the country alone by 2030.
For 2024, Watsons Philippines will continue to uplift the three pillars of its sustainability program — People, Product and the Planet — through initiatives that will benefit the planet and the
people who live in it.
These initiatives can be something as simple as encouraging Watsons shoppers to bring their own bags and increasing volunteer employees to medical missions in the country’s different areas with an increasing yield of beneficiaries.
“We have received good feedback from our customers about
our sustainability efforts and we look forward to inspiring them to feel their best while looking good and doing good for themselves and those around them,” Decapia further noted.
By championing sustainable practices, Watsons Philippines not only fosters a greener future but also inspires others to join
the movement. Through education, advocacy and leading by example, the company aims to inspire change and create a more sustainable world for generations to come.
Check out Watsons’ Sustainable Choices by visiting its physical stores or downloading the Watsons App now.