Avon - The Company for Women - Corporate Responsibility

Recycling Efficiency

Recycling efficiency is a key strength for Avon. We are proud of our ability to return much of the materials we use to the marketplace, instead of the landfill system. In 2004, Avon set an ambitious target: to increase recycling efficiency by 25 percent (from 52 percent to 65 percent) by the end of 2008.

Status

Recycling Efficiency

Manufacturing and distribution sites recycled 70% of combined total waste.

Overall, 70,945,000 pounds (32,248,000 kilograms) of material were recycled at our manufacturing sites in 2008. Five locations have recycling rates greater than 75%: Brazil, Mexico, Germany, China and Japan - which has the highest recycling rate of 95%.

In 2008, we measured the recycling rates at our distribution centers worldwide. In 2008, our distribution centers recycled approximately 71,173,000 pounds of material (77% of total waste generated). We are extremely pleased with our recycling efficiency.

At our distribution and manufacturing sites combined, we recycled approximately 142,118,000 pounds of material, which represents 70% of total waste generated.

Recycling saves money by reducing waste disposal costs and has great environmental benefits - preventing material from entering a landfill and returns material to the marketplace for reuse - saving resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.