Cutting the Crap: How to Increase Resource Efficiency in the European Personal Care Retail Sector

The report finds that ten major European personal care retailers are failing to take responsibility for resource efficiency, with none reporting targets or measurements for the overall resource impact of their product assortments. While a Wuppertal Institute study suggests a 20 per cent reduction in resource use is possible through existing alternatives like concentrated detergents and compressed deodorants, retailers generally lack time-bound objectives for recycled packaging or waste reduction. The report ranks Kruidvat as the best performer among the studied group, while Douglas scored zero on resource efficiency questions. It recommends that retailers stop selling resource-inefficient products, set binding reduction targets, and demand transparency from suppliers to inform consumers at the point of sale.

• Ten large European personal care retailers lack strategic approaches to resource efficiency, with none reporting targets to reduce or measurements of the overall resource impact of their product assortments.
• A study by the Wuppertal Institute indicates that fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) can reduce their resource footprint by 20 per cent almost immediately by switching to existing resource-efficient alternatives.
• Retailers scored poorly on specific resource objectives; none reported time-bound goals for 100% recycled or certified paper packaging for store brand primary and secondary products, nor for store brand hygiene products.
• Among the ten researched retailers, Kruidvat performed best on resource efficiency questions, while Douglas ranked last with a score of zero.
• Most retailers lack comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reporting; many only provide general sustainability information on websites or are mentioned within a larger parent group's report.
• Specific resource-saving potentials include reducing packaging by up to 80% through 'best in class' solutions and saving up to 70% of input materials by using reusable beverage bottles.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (2016). Cutting the Crap: How to Increase Resource Efficiency in the European Personal Care Retail Sector. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Changing-Markets_Cutting-the-Crap_Drogerien_English_web.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. Cutting the Crap: How to Increase Resource Efficiency in the European Personal Care Retail Sector. 2016. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Changing-Markets_Cutting-the-Crap_Drogerien_English_web.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=Cutting the Crap: How to Increase Resource Efficiency in the European Personal Care Retail Sector |date=August 2016 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Changing-Markets_Cutting-the-Crap_Drogerien_English_web.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundation2016cutting, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{Cutting the Crap: How to Increase Resource Efficiency in the European Personal Care Retail Sector}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2016}, month = aug, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Changing-Markets_Cutting-the-Crap_Drogerien_English_web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }