What makes Watsons first Greener Store truly green

Watsons officially opened its first 'Greener Store' in San Pedro, Laguna, as part of its ongoing effort to set a new standard for eco-friendly retail in the Philippines.

One of the country's leading health, wellness, and beauty retailer, Watsons take pride in this pioneering project that utilize renewable energy, sustainable store materials, and energy-efficient appliances.

Additionally, the store's materials and fixtures adhere to greener building standards, earning certification from Pi Energy Inc. This ensures that the store's operations align with environmental standards, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

"As a company with over 1000 stores across the country, we recognize that we have a commitment to influence our suppliers and our shoppers to become more sustainable in the way they consume products. As a retail company, we bring in a lot of products and so, it's important for us to find ways to integrate sustainability into our stores and operations," Alisandrea Coloma, Watsons senior manager for sustainability, shared on the sidelines of the store's opening.

Asked why they chose San Pablo as the location of their first Greener Store, the executive pointed to the city's strong commitment to sustainability.

"Even before we started building the store, San Pedro already has very strong sustainability and trash disposal programs. They've also been recognized as a 'Green City.' We wanted to be in a place that has a sustainability commitment so that we can contribute to their commitment as well," Coloma expounded.

Sustainable elements

Coloma then mentioned the other elements that make their store 'green.'

First is the use of renewable energy sources. The store is primarily powered by solar energy. By utilizing solar panels, the store saves approximately 7.5 tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to the CO2 absorption of around 377 trees annually.

Moreover, marketing materials, including signages and displays, are crafted from Solidus material instead of the usual Sintra board containing PVC or plastic. The move reduces the materials' environmental impact. Additionally, all marketing materials are made from recycled paper and boards with FSC certification, ensuring they originate from responsibly managed forests. The store also utilizes wood for its display racks and fixtures, further enhancing its commitment to sustainability.

When it comes to appliances, Watsons Greener Store uses LED lights that do not contain toxic materials, are 100 percent recyclable, and reduce energy consumption by up to a third. Additionally, the store utilizes inverter air conditioners and refrigerators that consume 40 percent lesser energy than conventional units.

The store also carries a wide range of sustainable choices products that advocate "Clean Beauty," "Better Ingredients," "Refill Packs & Better Packaging" from responsibly-sourced materials.

"The sustainable choice area we have year is bigger than the usual area we have in existing stores. This is because we really want our customers to come in and see there are options for more sustainable items in Watsons. It's the first thing they will notice when they enter the store," Coloma said.

Next comes the refill station, Watsons' first outside Metro Manila. Here, customers can conveniently replenish their Naturals by Watsons bottles with their favorite body wash and shampoo variants. The store also sells refillable bottles with screw caps, allowing customers to save up to 40 percent compared to standard purchases.

"I also want to highlight our 'Recycle for Rewards' area here. This is something we always wanted to do and now there's a bin inside the stores. So, customers can come in, bring in their empty health and beauty bottles, and in return they get a reward."

Finally, the store encourages customers to bring reusable shopping bags and actively promotes waste reduction, segregation, and recycling.

The store opening was also attended by Watsons Director for Store Operations Jin Jimenez, alongside local government officials Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez and San Pedro Mayor Art Francis Mercado.

In ending, Coloma said the Greener Store in San Pedro is only the first of many branches they hope to open.

"We want to roll this out to other stores across the country to bring the experience closer to our shoppers," Coloma ended.