The Body Shop

“I just want The Body Shop to be the best, most breathlessly exciting company – and one that changes the way business is carried out. That is my vision.”

              Anita Roddick. Human Rights Activist. Founder of The Body Shop.




The Body Shop International plc is the original, natural and ethical beauty brand, with over 2,500 stores in over 60 markets worldwide.The Body Shop International plc, known as The Body Shop, has 2,400 stores in 61 countries, and is the second largest cosmetic franchise in the world. The Body Shop is headquartered in Littlehampton, West Sussex, England and was founded in 1976 by the late Dame Anita Roddick.


The very first The Body Shop store opened up on 26th March 1976 in Brighton, on the south coast of England. By 1978 a kiosk in Brussels became the first overseas franchise, and by 1982 new shops opened at the rate of two per month.

The Body Shop is Glam, but how does it fit into being green?

In 1985, in its first year as a public company, The Body Shop sponsored posters for Greenpeace. A year later, it created an Environmental Projects Department of its own, while the first major window campaign for The Body Shop was "Save the Whale" with Greenpeace, in 1986.Over time, Roddick blossomed into a full-time critic of business in general, particularly the  cosmetic industry by criticizing what she considered the environmental insensitivity of the industry and traditional views of beauty. Roddick aimed to change standard corporate practices: "For me, campaigning and good business is also about putting forward solutions, not just opposing destructive practices or human rights abuses".The Body Shop turned increasingly toward social and environmental campaigns to promote its business in the late-80s.

The Body Shop is very conscious about climate change. They aim to lower the effects of climate change by  introducing new lighting, including store signs that  help to reduce their energy use. They have also introduced energy-awareness training for their store staff; reduced their air travel and are currently in the process of converting their car fleet to lower-emission models.As long-term advocates for reducing waste, The Body Shop has now introduced plastic bottles made from 100 per cent recycled material and In 2008 they replaced all their carrier bags with 100 per cent recycled and recyclable paper bags.

          

What The Body Shop has to say on fair trade: 

The Body Shop: In 1987, The Body Shop launched Community Fair Trade. One of the first examples of fair trade, Community Fair Trade has numerous benefits for our company, our customers and our suppliers. Through our long term trading relationships, we do more than give a fair price. We offer our suppliers a predictable and regular income for their family and the security and confidence to develop their own businesses. In turn we can access some of nature’s finest ingredients, which are grown and harvested by expert local farmers, and our accessories are made using time-honoured techniques, helping to preserve a traditional way of life.

Wherever possible, we seek to use Community Fair Trade ingredients in our products. Over the last two years, spending on Community Fair Trade ingredients, gifts and accessories has risen from £6.4m to £7.4m. In the process, Community Fair Trade allows our suppliers to build better futures for themselves and their communities. Today our programme benefits over 25,000 people in 22 countries worldwide, who supply us with 21 of our naturally derived ingredients and over 50 different gifts and accessories.

 Against animal testing

The Body Shop has always believed passionately that animals should not be used for cosmetic testing and have never tested their products on animals. They also insist that all their suppliers have not tested their ingredients on animals for cosmetic purposes.  The Body Shop proudly runs an international campaign against animal testing and also supports the development of alternatives to animal testing. In October 2009, The Body Shop was awarded a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the RSPCA in Britain, in recognition of its uncompromised policy which ensures  that ingredients are not tested on animals by their suppliers.

"Our products are not tested on animals, never have been and never will be"

The Body Shop and all the good they do:

 In 1997, Roddick launched a global campaign to raise self-esteem in women and against the media stereotyping of women. It focused on unreasonably skinny models in the context of rising numbers in bulimia and anorexia.

The Body Shop is helping the planet by promoting natural and ethical products which are not only good for you, but are gentle on the environment.

The Body Shop carries a wide range of products for the body, face, hair and home. The Body Shop does not claim its products are 'all-natural', but "inspired by nature" and they feature ingredients such as marula oil and sesame seed oil sourced through the Community Fair Trade program.

 All these reasons and facts are why The Body Shop is considered Glam and Green

xXx

The Glam Green Girl

The Body Shop is constantly producing innovative products and improving current products for customer safety and satisfaction. In 2010, The Body Shop produced its first ECOCERT certified organic skincare line, Nutriganics. Following the launch of Nutriganics, The Body Shop reformulated their hair line to contain no parabens or colourants (Rainforest Hair Care), and produced a new line of antiperspirant deodorants that contain no parabens or aluminium salts, and uses volcanic minerals as a substitute.