The Body Shop pledged to become the ‘world’s most ethical and sustainable global business’ as it unveiled a new pioneering global CSR strategy today. The extensive program of global activity and measureable targets will touch all areas of the business, and is set to be delivered by 2020.
“The Body Shop courageously pioneered new waves of thinking, acting and speaking out as a company. Our ground-breaking campaigns were ahead of their time and changed laws on animal testing, domestic violence and human trafficking. We were the first in beauty to use community trade and we still have the strongest program in the industry. We are small, but we lead,” said Body Shop Chairman and CEO Jeremy Schwartz.
“Today for all of us, the greatest challenges lie ahead and The Body Shop’s 40th anniversary is the perfect time to reassert our aim for leadership in ethical business. For us, being truly sustainable means shaping our business to work in line with the planet’s natural systems so they can replenish and restore themselves. With our commitment we’re challenging ourselves to go further than we’ve ever gone before to make a real, sustainable and positive difference. We have set ourselves a significant goal to be the world’s most ethical and truly sustainable global business.”
The L’Oréal-owned company’s commitment is divided into three pillars: enrich our people, enrich our products and enrich our planet, each with its own specific, measurable targets. For example, under the ‘enrich our people’ banner, The Body Shop will double its community trade program from 19 to 40 ingredients, while in the product category, one of the goals includes reducing the environmental footprint of all products year-on-year. From the planet’s perspective, the ethical beauty business will power 100 percent of stores with renewable or carbon balanced energy and develop and deliver three new sustainable packaging innovations.
Jeremy Schwartz added, “The Body Shop can be both a force for good and a successful, profitable business. Forty years ago Anita Roddick set out a challenge for The Body Shop to tackle the big issues of her time. We’re now tackling the big issues of today. We want our Enrich Not Exploit™ Commitment to inspire a new generation of customers, supporters and especially millennials who truly care about how a company operates. Re-establishing The Body Shop as a leader will come from delivering our ambitious aim to be the world’s most ethical and truly sustainable global business.”
