Three women in gray work attire, including caps, stand cheerfully in a triangle formation on a sidewalk in front of a building facade. The image is cropped so that only their shoulders and above are visible. Additionally, four wooden sticks extend upward, suggesting street sweeping tools.

“WOMEN IN CIRCULARITY” INITIATIVE: CARING FOR RECYCLING AND A MORE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY

Beiersdorf has launched a holistic social-environmental initiative providing funding to four plastic waste recycling organizations with a social business. The objectives include: 

(1) Expand infrastructure to boost plastic waste recycling in emerging economies

(2) Create jobs and provide training to support women in the waste management sector

The project will therefore have a positive environmental impact and will contribute to a more inclusive society.

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS IN ARGENTINA, GHANA, INDIA AND KENYA

“Beiersdorf’s Women in Circularity Program” is a fund initiated and enabled by Beiersdorf’s donation and operated by Haus des Stiftens. Through a donation of €4 million, four recycling organizations are being supported: Delterra in Argentina, Recycle Up! Ghana in Ghana, Green Worms in India and TakaTaka Solutions in Kenya – countries which have been severely impacted by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. These organizations will be able to offer income and development opportunities for more than 1,600 women within the waste management sector, which will in a direct consequence also have a positive impact for their families and communities. The initiative will also help increase these organizations’ plastic waste collection and recycling capacity by ~15,000 tons of plastic per year by expanding their plastic waste management infrastructure including new recycling plants.

The funds will create new jobs and improve working and living conditions for women in the sector through the provision of training, occupational health and safety, health insurance and expanded immunization services. Plans also call for the establishment of an environmental promoter program to educate communities on recycling behavior, the awarding of academic scholarships and access to kindergartens, among other measures.

CREATING LASTING IMPACT THROUGH THE “WOMEN IN CIRCULARITY” INITIATIVE

Tackling the global plastic problem while supporting women

WHY DO YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS NEED SPECIAL SUPPORT IN THE PANDEMIC?

In recent decades, educational opportunities and the general situation for young women and girls has improved in many places. However, the negative aftermath of the pandemic has been a major setback for female empowerment due to the fact that in crisis situations, inequalities and threatening conditions that already exist are often excerbated. “Women in Circularity” aims to support women in overcoming some of the hurdles experienced as a result of the pandemic (repaying loans that were taken, job loss, etc.) towards greater economic security and stability.

  • Three women in gray work clothes and hats stand together in a triangle on a sidewalk in front of a building. Each of the women is carrying a black, closed, waist-high garbage can, which has a kind of holder on the side with wooden handles sticking out of it. The picture suggests that the women are doing cleaning work on this street.

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    Delterra in Argentina

  • A person wearing gloves is sorting waste, including plastic bottles, cardboard, and packaging materials, on a table. The scene takes place indoors, where waste is being sorted for recycling or disposal.

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    Delterra in Argentina

  • An Argentinian worker in protective clothing holds two large garbage bags in a warehouse in Argentina, surrounded by other collected waste. The scene takes place in an interior room where waste is sorted for recycling or disposal.

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    Delterra in Argentina

  • A Indian woman in a recycling facility in India stands next to an orange hand pallet truck. In the background, large bales of compressed recycled materials are visible. The scene takes place indoors, where waste is being sorted for recycling or disposal.

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    Green Worms in India

  • Workers sorting waste materials at a recycling plant in India. The workers are wearing protective clothing, including gloves and headgear. Various types of waste materials, including plastic and paper, can be seen on a long table. Next to the workers are baskets, presumably for sorting various recyclable materials. The recycling plant has a high ceiling with visible beams and lighting fixtures. A banner or sign with the text "GREEN WASTE WORKS" can be seen at the top left of the picture.

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    Green Worms in India

  • A group of dark-skinned women in colorful traditional dresses sitting on chairs outdoors. One person is holding a microphone, suggesting an event or meeting where people might be speaking or performing.

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    Recycle Up! Ghana in Ghana

  • The image depicts four women with dark skin tones wearing orange work suits and bright hairnets. They are standing together in a hall or industrial setting, with large bags of collected materials visible in the background.

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    TakaTaka Solutions in Kenya

  • A group of workers in orange overalls and caps sorting waste at a recycling plant in Kenya. Under a corrugated iron roof supported by wooden beams, they are busy separating different types of waste materials on a long table. Plastic and organic materials are visible on the table.

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    TakaTaka Solutions in Kenya

    INITIATIVE ADDS TO CARE BEYOND SKIN SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA

    Promoting a circular economy is one of the key targets of Beiersdorf’s CARE BEYOND SKIN Sustainability Agenda. In this context, Beiersdorf not only looks holistically at product improvements on the formula and packaging level, but also at projects that are centered around the implementation of a circular approach. “Beiersdorf’s Women in Circularity Program” adds to this important field of action beyond our value chain through the establishment and expansion of local recycling infrastructure within local markets in need of additional funding.

    Furthermore, the initiative sets a new landmark also in the context of Beiersdorf’s social commitment “For an Inclusive Society” through the empowerment of women in the waste management sector. This central part of Beiersdorf’s COVID-19 Aid Program contributes to six of the UN’s 17 sustainability goals.

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