INTERNATIONAL. In an important Knowledge Hub session at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo about the future viability of the channel and the health of the planet, speakers from three leading brands considered the theme of sustainability today.
JTI Worldwide Duty Free Corporate Affairs & Communications Director Gemma Bateson outlined the role the tobacco category can play in the industry’s recovery from COVID–19-related problems.
She described tobacco as a highly pre-planned “destination category” revealing that over 92% of tobacco buyers have already decided to make a purchase before arriving at the airport. According to Bateson, they also spend +20% more than non-tobacco purchasers so are a “key contributor” to the industry, especially in the early months of recovery.
She encouraged retailers to “use the tobacco category as a values signpost; make it visible, make it easy to shop, get the purchasers in… they will spend more and they across categories and build the baskets.”
Bateson discussed the “unforeseen and unintended” consequences of domestic market regulations on the tobacco category.
“In 2019 our industry generated US$27 billion, we were one of only two retail channels growing in the world, alongside online sales, so our sales will come back. Consumers will start travelling again.
“We need to use our voice to stand together. Governments will listen to us. We are after ‘better’ regulations; not no regulation, but better regulation. If we make sure our industry is understood, we can find a solution that helps our business to thrive, that meets the needs of consumers, and also meets the need of the regulators.
“Get engaged, get involved, together we have a hugely powerful voice,” she added.
L’Occitane en Provence Group Sustainability Officer Adrien Geiger and Head of Global Travel Retail Marketing Mona L’Hostis said that the COVID-19 crisis offers opportunity for a re-think on sustainability. A connection with nature, Geiger said, is “crucial” for business development for the next generation.
He said key sustainability goals are to regenerate its eco-system and biodiversity, and to promote inclusion and diversity. L’Occitane is an active member of the One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B) coalition.
“We are cultivators of nature… our core business is to look after our biodiversity because that is where we can get everything we want for our customers.”
Geiger outlined the brand’s ‘3 x 100%’ approach to plastic packaging. All packaging will be from recycled plastic and all stores will recycle packaging. Refilling is encouraged and L’Occitane is considering solid cosmetics.
Geiger also underlined L’Occitane’s support of the Plastic Odyssey programme to fight plastic pollution at sea.
Rituals Cosmetics Innovation & Sustainability Director Niki Schilling introduced Rituals’ sustainable well-being. She outlined the company’s aim to encourage ‘slow down moments’ which is “at the core of everything we do”.
“Sustainability is so much more than just the planet; it’s about people, it’s about the whole system.”
Rituals has three pillars in its sustainability strategy: Clean for its formula commitment, conscious for packaging and caring with a special focus on children.
The brand’s 2025 goal is for all its products to be refillable, recyclable and/or made from recycled material. It also aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 25%.
Schilling underlined the impact of Rituals’ refilling strategy and the company’s green business practices; Rituals is also on target to being a B Certified Corporation by the end of this year.
“We don’t want to stay where we are. We are really on a journey to being the best we can be,” she concluded.