Body Shop Boycott

29 March 2006

Michelle

I recently heard in the news (ABC and SMH) that Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop, has sold her company to L’Oreal for over $3 million.

‘A couple of years ago she attacked L’Oreal for employing only “sexy” women on its sales counters. Any differences appeared to have been ironed out on Friday. Ms Roddick praised the French business for wanting to be an “advocate and supporter of our values” and said it would be business as usual.’ – SMH

Ethical Consumer is quoted as saying,

‘It’s ironic that a company well known for its anti-animal testing stance should sell to one that tests on animals and which has yet to show its commitment to any ethical issues at all.’

I can’t remember the last time I shopped at the Body Shop, but I always believed in what they stood for (perhaps naively, as I have also learned that in recent years they had relaxed their stance on using ingredients that have been tested on animals in their products).

Like many others, I will continue to seek out alternative businesses with strong ethics, who use natural ingredients, and who do NOT test or use ingredients tested on animals.