AMELIE WEBER, SASCHA NISSEN
A.I.S.E.

Abstract

A.I.S.E., the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products, has a long tradition of proactive work towards sustainable development. This industry sector is positively contributing to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the EU vision for a new plastics economy in Europe via its tailored strategy on sustainable development. This includes initiatives aimed at creating a circular economy and reducing the environmental footprint of detergents and maintenance products, where all the phases of a product life cycle are considered. Therefore, continuous improvement in the efficiency of the product design, but also of its packaging have to be sought. A.I.S.E. has an ambitious agenda of activities that address the challenges involved and has undertaken several initiatives to reduce the impact of packaging and packaging waste across the industry and to increase the uptake of recycled plastic content in packaging. This article describes these initiatives in detail (1).

A ROLE MODEL INDUSTRY FOR SERVING SOCIETY IN AN INNOVATIVE & SUSTAINABLE WAY

A.I.S.E., the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products, is the official representative body of this industry in Europe. Its membership totals 29 national associations across Europe, 17 corporate members and 14 value chain partners. The A.I.S.E. network of members represents over 900 companies supplying both, household and professional cleaning and maintenance products and services to consumers and professional users.

Over the last 20 years A.I.S.E. has delivered impactful projects to drive sustainable production, design and consumption across the cleaning and hygiene industry in a responsible way. Sustainable development is one of A.I.S.E.’s strategic priorities enshrined in the industry’ vision to be ‘A prospering cleaning and hygiene industry which is a role model for serving society in an innovative and sustainable way’. The leadership and coordination of voluntary sustainability initiatives together with stakeholder partners is a key defining strength of this industry and one which builds the industryâ ...