Environmental Sustainability

Charter for Environmentally Sustainable Self-Care

In November 2021, the Global Self-Care Federation launched the GSCF Charter for Environmentally Sustainable Self-Care, a landmark commitment by the self-care industry to embed environmental sustainability at the heart of operations, products, and value chains.

The Charter represents a unified, industry-wide pledge to take measurable action on the most pressing environmental challenges facing our planet. Since its launch, the Charter has been signed by more than 26 organisations, including leading manufacturers and national associations from across the global self-care sector.

By signing the Charter, members signal their commitment to transparency, continuous improvement, and collective progress toward a more sustainable future for self-care.

Priority Areas

The Charter identifies three priority areas where the self-care industry can have the greatest environmental impact. Signatories commit to taking concrete action across each of these domains, setting targets, measuring progress, and reporting outcomes annually.

Plastics & Packaging

Reducing plastic waste and optimising packaging is a critical priority. Members commit to designing for recyclability, increasing the use of recycled and renewable materials, eliminating unnecessary packaging, and supporting the development of circular economy infrastructure. Initiatives include lightweighting, transitioning to mono-material constructions, and implementing refill and reuse models where feasible.

Pharmaceuticals in the Environment

Addressing the presence of pharmaceutical ingredients in the environment is a complex, multi-stakeholder challenge. Charter signatories commit to advancing research into environmental fate and effects, promoting responsible use and disposal of self-care products, investing in greener chemistry and formulation design, and collaborating with regulators, academia, and waste management partners to find science-based solutions.

CO₂ Footprint & Climate Action

Measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the full value chain is a core commitment of the Charter. Members pledge to set science-based targets, improve energy efficiency in manufacturing and logistics, transition to renewable energy sources, and work with suppliers to reduce Scope 3 emissions. Transparent reporting of progress against these targets is a key accountability mechanism.

Member Pledge Commitments

Each signatory to the Charter submits individual pledges that outline specific actions, timelines, and measurable targets aligned with the three priority areas. These pledges are publicly available and updated annually to reflect progress and evolving ambition.

Commitments made by member organisations include:

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• Eliminating PVC and other problematic plastics from product packaging by defined target dates.
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• Ensuring all packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2030.
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• Reducing virgin plastic use by 30–50% per unit of product.
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• Conducting environmental risk assessments for pharmaceutical ingredients and investing in greener alternatives.
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• Setting and validating science-based carbon reduction targets aligned with the Paris Agreement.
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• Transitioning to 100% renewable electricity across owned operations.
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• Publishing annual sustainability reports with verified progress metrics.
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• Collaborating with industry peers and stakeholders to develop standardised measurement and reporting frameworks.
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These commitments are not static — signatories regularly review and strengthen their pledges as new technologies, scientific understanding, and regulatory frameworks emerge.

Collective Impact & Reporting

Beyond individual pledges, Charter signatories work collectively to drive systemic change across the self-care sector. The GSCF facilitates knowledge sharing, joint research initiatives, and the development of common metrics and standards that enable meaningful comparison and accelerate progress.

An annual progress report aggregates signatory achievements, highlights best-practice case studies, and tracks sector-wide trends across the three priority areas. This transparent reporting mechanism ensures accountability and demonstrates the industry's commitment to measurable, verifiable environmental action.

The Charter also serves as a platform for engagement with policymakers, NGOs, scientific experts, and other stakeholders, amplifying the impact of individual company efforts through collective advocacy and partnership.

Join the Charter

The GSCF Charter for Environmentally Sustainable Self-Care is open to all GSCF member organisations committed to making a difference. New signatories are welcomed on an ongoing basis, and the GSCF works closely with each new member to develop meaningful, ambitious pledges aligned with their specific operations and capabilities.

If your organisation is a GSCF member and would like to become a signatory, or if you would like to learn more about the Charter and its work, please get in touch with the GSCF Secretariat.