Clicks Group is a retail-led healthcare group which has been listed on the JSE Limited since 1996. Through market-leading retail brands Clicks, GNC, The Body Shop and Claire's, the group has over 840 stores across southern Africa. Clicks Group is a leader in the healthcare market where Clicks has the largest retail pharmacy chain in South African with over 600 in-store pharmacies, while United Pharmaceutical Distributors (UPD) is South Africa's leading full-range national pharmaceutical wholesaler.
Tallia Ficalbi-Hobbs, Private Label Technical Manager for the Clicks Group asserts that Clicks is committed to using FSC certified paper and board for the private label products, and where possible use recycled content. The Clicks Group is also the licensed franchise holder for The Body Shop in South Africa, and operates its stand-alone stores and sale of The Body Shop range through its Clicks stores. A large proportion of the Body Shop products’ paper-based packaging and labeling and wood based accessory products, such as the shower and nail brushes are FSC certified.
“We at FSC are excited to have the Clicks Group on board our promotional license program, and support their commitment to sourcing forest-based products from responsibly managed forests”, says Gerard Busse, FSC South Africa Marketing Manager. Their promotional license will enable them to highlight which products are FSC certified on their online platforms and other promotional mediums.
The Clicks Group recognises the significant impact of the individual and corporate on a sustainable social and economic environment. They also acknowledge that success cannot be achieved in the absence of care for the social and environmental systems upon which their operations depend. Their sustainability indicators are aligned to various United Nation’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDG’s), and they strive to ensure their operational footprint is managed in a way that enhances efficiency and environmental responsibility. Clicks Group also believes that partnering with FSC, which is closely aligned with 14 out of the 17 SDG’s would add further value to achieving their sustainability goals.
The Group recognises the significant impact of climate change on individuals, communities, corporations, governments and nations. Climate change risk encourages the group to explore innovative solutions to improve the impact of their activities and products by evaluating their carbon footprint. The group has moved beyond a narrow focus on legislative and regulatory compliance to embedding climate management into our strategic and operational processes. The Clicks Group also recognises the role of a sustainable forestry sector has a natural based climate solution.
FSC Southern Africa looks forward to working with the Clicks Group in achieving their commitment to sourcing products and packaging that is renewable and responsibly sourced.