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 low Good Shopping Guide score in our Ethical Sun Protection Ratings Table.

We encourage businesses in the Sun Protection sector to adopt more ethical policies, following The Body Shop’s example.

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 status. 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.

The Body Shop is also fully cruelty-free and has products certified by The Vegan Society, which demonstrates its commitment to animal welfare.

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.

If your sun protection brand values ethics and sustainability, why not check out The Good Shopping Guide‘s Ethical Accreditation? Increase customer and investor confidence and stand out from the greenwash.