The Body Shop

How ethical is The Body Shop?

The Body Shop, a make-up owned by Natura Cosméticos S.A., is one of The Good Shopping Guide’s independently-researched skincare brands. (This parent corporation is also the owner of Avon, another health and beauty brand.) This company passes our ethical criterion with a Good Shopping Guide score of 69 in our Ethical Shampoo & Conditioner Ratings Table.

Following The Body Shop’s example, we encourage businesses in the Shampoo & Conditioner industry to adopt more ethical policies.

Is The Body Shop actually ethical?

The Body Shop earns high ratings for its thorough Environmental Report, opposition to the use of genetically modified substances and cruelty-free products. The parent firm of The Body Shop, Natura Cosméticos S.A., has published a thorough environmental report with goals to reach net zero by 2030. The zero deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest this year is documented in this report along with its sustainability progress to date. This number is especially important for a cosmetics company because many unethical cosmetics and beauty companies use palm oil, which severely degrades the environment. The formulation of Natura Cosméticos S.A.’s 95%+ biodegradable product is also mentioned in this progress report.

How could The Body Shop improve its rating?

The Body Shop does not perform well for its lack of certified-Organic products. Though the brand claims to use some organic ingredients, the brand also admits that they do not make or stock any fully-certified products.

The Body Shop could obtain Organic-certification for some of its items. Without the use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other agrochemicals harmful to both people and wildlife, cosmetic ingredients are grown and produced more sustainably and ethically.