body-shop-bag.jpgFor over a quarter century, the Body Shop has built a reputation for integrity and social responsibility. The world’s second largest cosmetic franchise continued its elevation of corporate values this year with the release of its “2009 Living Our Values report”. 

The annual report outlines Body Shop values and how they are put into practice. Its 5 core values support:

  • No Animal Testing
  • Only Trading with suppliers who are committed to their Code of Conduct for Suppliers
  • Activating Self Esteem
  • Defending Human Rights
  • Protecting the Planet

To care for the planet, the Body Shop became the first cosmetics company to source sustainably harvested palm oil and introduce the ingredient into the beauty industry, working in partnership with a certified organic producer in Colombia, in 2007.

In early 2008 they introduced 100% post consumer recycled bottles. While all their bottles currently contain at the minimum 30% recycled material, they adopted a target to convert to 100% within the next 12 months.

The unique Community Trade program creates sustainable trading relationships with disadvantaged communities around the world, providing essential income to more than 25,000 people.

lip-gloss-against-violence.jpgThe “Stop Violence in the Home campaign” was launched globally in 2003, to raise awareness and funding for women affected by domestic violence . As part of the campaign The Body Shop created a “For Me, For You” Special Edition Shea Lip Care Duo. All proceeds were funneled directly to campaign partners in more than 55 countries, raising in excess of US$4 million.

Although purchased by L’Oréal in 2006 for £652.3 million, the company remains committed to becoming Carbon Neutral by 2010.

Its “Yes Yes Yes campaign,” launched in March this year in cooperation with MTV,  funds the Staying Alive Foundation, in order to take action against HIV/AIDS. A special Lip Butter was created for this campaign, all proceeds go to raising HIV and AIDS awareness around the world

cream-kind-heart-bodyshop.jpgTo support its human rights agenda, the company is helping to stop sex trafficking of children and young people. The Body Shop and ECPAT (a global network of charities) joined hands to promote a hand cream called, Soft Hands, Kind Heart, the proceeds of which are donated to ECPAT.

Another great initiative launched in 2007 is the “Bag for Life”, a product they continue to produce in various designs. A proportion of the profits goes to the organisation “Children on the edge”, with the goal of helping to support the most vulnerable and marginalized children around the world. Apart from the ‘Green bag’, a limited edition bag will be sold in shops (throughout Europe) only on the 26th and 27th of November. It is designed by Karen Gómez, an employee at The Body Shop in Barcelona, who won the European employee bag design competition.

Visit their website for more information about good things happening at The Body Shop .

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