Founded in 1976 in Brighton, England, by Dame Anita Roddick, The Body Shop is a global beauty brand. The organization seeks to make a positive difference in the world by offering high-quality, naturally-inspired skincare, body care, hair care, and make-up produced ethically and sustainably. The global beauty brand is known for its commitment to activism and social change. It is a platform for raising awareness and advocating for various social and environmental issues.
With a strong emphasis on activism, The Body Shop is passionate about making a positive impact on the world. Its dedication to cruelty-free and ethicallysourced products reflectsits unwavering commitment to animal welfare and sustainability.
TheCSRUniverse had an exclusive interview with Harmeet Singh, VP- Marketing, Digital & Product, wherein she talks about how the organization tackles pressing issues such as animal testing, gender equality, human rights, and environmental sustainability. She also discusses how The Body Shop stands as a beacon for conscious consumers worldwide, along with how its dedication to fair trade partnerships, empowering communities, and protecting the planet sets them apart in the beauty industry.
Scroll down to read the full interview:
Q. Please tell us about the idea behind your newly introduced bespoke recycled cotton gift pouches and how this aligns with the broader vision and mission of Teddy Exports, which is your first Community Fair Trade partner in India.
A. Our cotton gift pouches represent our emphasis on empowerment and ethical consumption while highlighting our commitment to fostering positive change within the community. These are hand-made by the women working at Teddy Exports, our first and long-standing Community Fair Trade partner in India, since 1987.
Teddy Exports was founded by Amanda Murphy who visited India in the late 80s as a volunteer of The Body Shop, UK. The organization exemplifies the principles of 'Trade, not Aid—Business, not Charity.'. Starting with just five employees crafting wooden massage rollers, the organization has grown into a Fairtrade company employing over 550 people across three campuses in Thirumangalam. Their diverse product range includes textile and wooden items, crafted sustainably and ethically.
The company harbors the dream of an inclusive and equitable society, and this is reflected in its employee composition. Approximately 70% of the total workforce at the organization comprises women, and 12% includes people with disabilities. We recently released a video showcasing the stories of women who are working at the company. Their narratives are inspiring and bear testimony to how ethical practices in businesses can change the lives of so many people.
To further their engagement with the community, Teddy Exports inaugurated the Teddy Trust in 1987. A percentage of its profits is allocated to this trust every month. This is then used to fund local development projects like The Teddy Schools, which supports the education of over 650 native students; The Teddy Creche; and The Teddy Farm.
Therefore, as is evident, our mission and vision align perfectly with those of Teddy Exports, and we have supported the organization wholeheartedly throughout our journey together. To augment this, we launched a donation campaign wherein customers were invited to donate multiples of 10 rupees until the end of 2023. The proceeds would then go towards the Teddy Trust.
Q. The initiative ‘Spark A Change’ is designed to integrate inclusivity with socio-economic upliftment. Could you please elaborate on this?
A. The #SparkAChange campaign marked the beginning of the festive season for us. We understand that Diwali is a time of sharing and coming together. Thus, this initiative sought to extend the spirit of comradery beyond individual households to encompass entire communities. At its core were Diwali gifting bags, handcrafted by the women at Teddy Exports. Customers could fill these bags with the products of their choice.
The inclusiveness and socio-economic upliftment aspects of this are highlighted by the fact that Teddy Exports is our oldest CFT Partner in India. Their work ethic and policies reflect their motto of 'Trade, not Aid—Business, not Charity.' This means that they believe, as do we, that achieving the goal of economic integration and social empowerment requires a holistic approach focused on livelihood generation and providing equal opportunities to those who have been marginalized.
Teddy Trust has undertaken several social initiatives to advance the welfare of the local community. All these initiatives are directed at groups (girl children, female sex workers, those at risk for HIV) who have been the most neglected in our society. Needless to say, the campaign was a demonstration of the pride that we feel in the work Teddy Exports is doing, and we are one with them in spirit and struggle.
Q. The Body Shop India launched a donation campaign, inviting customers to make an impact with every purchase by contributing multiples of 10 rupees until the end of 2023 to support Teddy Trust's projects. What kind of challenges have you been facing in this journey?
A. Our commitment to social impact initiatives like the donation campaign with Teddy Trust has been unwavering. We've been fortunate not to encounter significant challenges in these projects; rather, they've been a cornerstone of our ethos. The resonance and enthusiastic participation from our customers have been phenomenal, reflecting their shared passion for making a difference.
Infact, this seamless integration of customer enthusiasm, robust partnerships, and the dedication of our staff forms the foundation of our success in these endeavors. Together, they converge to create a powerful force for social good, driving us forward in our mission to create a more sustainable and equitable world.
Q. You are working towards empowering women as decision-makers and drivers of community prosperity. What are the specific steps taken in this direction and what has the impact been so far?
A. Generating employment for women ensures financial independence and empowerment—the bedrock for unlocking their decision-making capacity. Over 60% of direct beneficiaries from our ethical community trade partnerships comprise marginalized women, highlighting this as a key organizational priority.
Further, recognizing the global waste management crisis and the potential of ecofeminism, we entered into a Community Fair Trade partnership with Plastics for Change in 2019 in India. This initiative focuses on purchasing recycled plastic from waste pickers in India, offering fair prices in an industry that is largely unregulated and exploitative. This not only addresses environmental concerns but also provides stability to marginalized waste pickers. This is especially beneficial for women in the profession who lie at the margins. The initiative received Ethical Corporation’s 2019 ‘Plastics Innovation Award,’ acknowledging its unique approach to both the environmental and human aspects of the plastic crisis. Then, of course, there is our partnership with Teddy Exports, a fair trade company that majorly employs women (60–70% of its workforce).
These are all ordinary women who, through support and resources, have emerged as extraordinary agents of positive change. That is the power of ethical business practice.
In addition to these partnerships, our ‘Changemaking Beauty’ campaign focused on highlighting the struggles and stories of women in different fields. They featured inspiring changemakers like actress Shefali Shah, football player Bala Devi, and Anny Divya, the youngest female commander to fly the Boeing 777. The purpose was to inspire women to break the molds of patriarchy and transcend their gendered roles. It also aims at countering the misconception that focusing on looks hinders professional growth. It's a myth propagated by false binaries that we're determined to break. Women should soar without these barriers.
Another important campaign that we launched in 2021 in collaboration with CRY was “End Period Shame.” The objective was to destigmatize menstruation and encourage conversations around it. The idea is to remove the mystery and shame around what is essentially a biological process so that women and young girls do not fall prey to myths and misconceptions.
Q. Could you please tell us about the ‘Our Community Fair Trade’ program in detail? How does it help your suppliers invest in environmental projects?
A. The Body Shop as a brand embodies a people-first approach. The Community Fair Trade Programme epitomizes this. We are immensely proud of the program's impact on communities worldwide. It was launched in 1987 under the name "Trade, Not Aid” and has since evolved to take the shape that it is now.
The objective, however, remains the same: to empower struggling communities by engaging them as suppliers of raw materials for the brand. For example, in 1987, we partnered with Teddy Exports in India, a Fairtrade company committed to uplifting rural women by giving them employment opportunities. In 2019, we initiated a collaboration with Plastics for Change to purchase recycled plastic from waste pickers in India for our packaging needs. These are, of course, some of our partnerships. Overall, the program has touched the lives of 10,000 producers, farmers, and artisans across 18 supplier groups in 14 countries.
At this juncture, it is important to emphasize that all our partnerships work on ethical principles and ensure financial independence and dignified living through fair pay, favorable trade terms, and targeted support for all employees a majority of whom are women or members of the marginalized sections of society. We also ensure that workers in our supply chain are free from exploitation and discrimination, enjoying conditions of freedom, security, and equity. This commitment is exemplified by the fact that we are founding members of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), inaugurated in 1998 to ensure that members follow ethical trade practices.
Furthermore, what sets our Community Fair Trade program apart is its personal touch. Operated solely by The Body Shop, it stands as the largest fair trade program in the cosmetics industry. We have built authentic connections with our suppliers, knowing them on a personal level, understanding their families, and engaging with their communities. In doing so, we have been able to create and nurture relationships with these communities that extend beyond business transactions.
To guarantee transparency and accountability, our program undergoes regular auditing by ECOCERT, a fair trade assessment agency. The Sustainable Sourcing Charter outlines our commitment to sustainable supply chains and the core principles of the Community Fair Trade program.
Q. Please tell us about your initiatives for plastic recycling. In your opinion, what are the most pressing challenges you are facing in addressing environmental issues?
A. Environmental stewardship has been integral to our operations and we constantly strive to reduce our ecological impact through sustainable packaging and plastic recycling.
We continually review and evolve our product packaging to align with these objectives, striving to achieve zero waste. In 2021, we launched our most sustainable haircare range, featuring bottles and tubes that are 100% recyclable and made from 100% recycled plastic. Notably, this includes Community Fair Trade recycled plastic sourced from the streets of Bengaluru. By using recycled plastic in our packaging, we actively contribute to addressing the issue of existing waste plastics while simultaneously supporting communities impacted by this challenge.
We're committed to making all our bath, body, and haircare products fully recyclable by 2025. Currently, more than 68% of our packaging can technically be recycled. We are proactively exploring ways to increase this percentage across our entire product portfolio. Additionally, we are steadily incorporating post-consumer recycled (PCR) material into our PET plastic product packaging.
Launched in 2019, our in-store recycling program, Recycle-Return-Repeat, has amassed over 5000 kilos of Body Shop empties. Our ultimate goal is to create a circular model, aiming to reuse or repurpose 100% of our product packaging in the long term.
In summary, we strongly believe that our in-store RRR campaign and waste-picker integration set a template for conscious businesses wanting to tackle sustainability challenges through inclusive innovation that empowers marginalized communities. After all, business cannot succeed in societies that fail.
Q. Besides environment protection and livelihood generation, are there other sectors wherein you have undertaken social projects? How are these projects progressing?
A. We have a long history of supporting social and community causes across various sectors in India and around the world. Although our key focus is on environmental protection and livelihood generation, we also actively support projects in other critical areas: women's empowerment, inclusion and equity, youth activism, and education. Some examples of recent social initiatives we have championed in India include:
We launched Project N.A.R.I. in partnership with the Plastics for Change India Foundation to train and employ women waste pickers to manufacture our recycled plastic accessories line. The project also focused on their nutritional, health, and safety needs.
In 2020, we collaborated with CRY for our "END PERIOD SHAME" which supported thousands of girls in slum communities with period products as well as raised 2 million INR towards menstrual education for young girls and boys.
Furthermore, through our Why 25 campaign, we engaged with over 25 million young voters across India, adding their voices to the political process and supporting youth-led community projects on social and environmental issues. This helps nurture future generations of changemakers. In addition to this, we introduced our Youth Collective Advisory Board, which comprises young activists under 30, each contributing significantly to their respective causes. This board guides vital decisions with respect to strategy formation and implementation at The Body Shop.
We measure the impact of each initiative through actionable metrics around reach, livelihoods augmented, mindsets changed, and on-ground impact. Our social projects have been able to drive meaningful progress so far. However, there is still more work to be done, and we continuously evolve our efforts to maximize positive change.
Q. On-ground implementation is crucial when it comes to any development project meant for the masses. How do you finalize your implementation partners and which organizations are you working with for your major projects?
A. At The Body Shop, the selection of implementation partners for our development projects is a meticulous process driven by shared values, expertise, and a proven track record in community engagement. We believe in forging partnerships that align not only with our brand values but also exhibit a deep commitment to social and environmental causes. For our major projects, we prioritize collaborations with organizations that showcase a clear understanding of the local communities' needs and possess a history of impactful work.
We are proud pioneers of fair trade and the only country in the world with 3 Community Fair Trade (CFT) partners. Teddy Exports (Madurai, India), Manorama Industries (Chattisgarh, India), and Plastics for Change (Bengaluru, India) Additionally, we've collaborated with various local NGOs and grassroots organizations that have demonstrated exceptional dedication to causes aligned with The Body Shop's mission.
Q. How do you see your social initiatives evolving and scaling up in the near to medium future? Are there any upcoming projects, partnerships, or innovations that you are looking forward to?
A. We are now the first global beauty brand with 100% vegan product formulations certified by the Vegan Society.
Further, we are set to implement strategic initiatives outlined by the Youth Collective Council surrounding the following:
- A comprehensive approach to Gender Sensitivity across all the facets of The Body Shop India operations. Through a key focus on this initiative, The Body Shop will establish a respectful and equitable environment instores and at the workplace for their respective diverse customers and employees from diverse orientations.
- Elevating the experience for the visually challenged community by introducing Braille in all the stores in a phased manner, ensuring an enhanced in-store experience for everyone.
- Committed to utilizing authentic representation of real-life heroes from diverse backgrounds in Marketing Campaigns establishing inclusivity as the benchmark for the industry.
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