Watsons Hong Kong launches plastic recycling programme

Watsons is expecting to collect about 110,000 containers in 12 months.

Watsons Hong Kong has launched a city-wide plastic container recycling programme called ‘Plastic Reborn’ in collaboration with Procter and Gamble, using its network of 230 stores across the city as collection points for empty plastic containers, IGD reported.

Hong Kong-based service The Loops will send these used containers of personal care products to a local recycling facility in Tuen Mun’s Eco Park. Watsons is expecting to collect about 110,000 containers in the next 12 months, with the target hiking to 210,000 in 2023.

With every used container brought to Watsons stores, customers can earn one Plastic Reborn eStamp. And once they can collect 5 to 30 eStamps, they can redeem selected Procter and Gamble products from Watsons stores.

The program aims to rebuild trust amongst Hong Kong residents on the feasibility of plastic recycling: in the past two years, most residents have been skeptical on whether their returned containers will be brought back into the supply chain, as an investigation revealed that plastic bottles collected in recycling bins at residential estates have ended up in the landfills.