STORES
Fighting to empower women and girls
Since Anita Roddick opened The Body Shop back in 1976, we’ve been championing equality. Feminism is in our bones; our feminist principles include everyone, and we firmly believe that equality benefits everyone. We’re committed to advocating self-love and body acceptance, and through our activism, we campaign to make the world a fair and safe place for women and girls. Here at The Body Shop we celebrate International Women’s Day 2021 by reflecting on all the partnerships we’ve made throughout the years; discover the projects we have worked on and find out how you too can help empower women all over the world.
In 2019, we encouraged girls to dream big. In partnership with Plan International, we worked to give women and girls in Indonesia and Brazil the tools they need to succeed and unlock their dreams. Sadly, lots of girls in these countries don’t have access to education and employment. Our Dream Big campaign supported an 18-month programme that provided young women with vocational training and skills to help them start their own businesses or find good, safe employment. We’ve been helping 1,500 young women through this programme.
Period products should not be a luxury, but many people who have periods aren’t able to afford them. In 2019 we teamed up with Bloody Good Period, a charitable project that provides menstrual supplies to asylum seekers, refugees and those living in poverty. Gabby Edlin founded Bloody Good Period when she realised that food banks and drop-in centres weren’t supplying enough period products to people who needed them, or couldn’t supply any at all. We used our thousands of stores and The Body Shop at Home™ network to collect period products for those in need, donating them to local organisations like refuges, drop-in centres and shelters.
Find out moreIn 2019 we partnered with Plastics for Change to forge a new Community Fair Trade partnership, purchasing recycled plastic from Bengaluru, India. Plastics for Change work with ‘waste pickers’ in India who are often ‘dalits’ – the lowest members of India’s caste system, and vulnerable to discrimination and poor working conditions. They’ve helped women like Annamma, who was a waste picker since she was a child and now manages a Dry Waste Collection Centre, employing a number of people and supporting her daughter through a plastic engineering course.
Find out moreDuring the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many countries reported a sharp and shocking rise in domestic violence. With much of the world in lockdown, many women, men and children were trapped at home with their abusers and isolated from their friends and family. With our Natura &Co sister brands (Natura, AVON and Aesop) we launched our #IsolatedNotAlone campaign, working with global domestic violence charity NO MORE to keep the issues front of mint for governments, and offer essential guidance to those in need and anyone who may know someone in need.
Visit out Activism Hub“A few years ago, my life changed completely. I recovered from a serious illness and decided to resign from my stressful corporate job where I worked very long hours. Looking for a little fun, I hosted a The Body Shop At Home™ party. Chatting with the Consultant, I realised that this opportunity would give me something to focus on, but would also allow me to spend time with my family. I loved partying so much that I decided to concentrate on creating a career and building my own team. I have since been promoted and I now work with and support some really successful managers. This business is amazing and with some dedication and hard work, the opportunity is there for anyone that wants it!”
SENIOR AREA MANAGER
“When I attended a The Body Shop At Home™ party, I certainly wasn’t looking for a new job as I had two children under 18 months old. But it was such fun and I could see how the Consultant role would fit perfectly into family life and have the potential to grow when I had more time. I loved partying and meeting new people. So when my maternity leave ended, rather than return to my full time job, I decided to focus on being a Consultant and growing my own business. The flexibility and unlimited earning opportunities are amazing – I work around my family commitments and choose my own hours. I would highly recommend this job - you never know what you could achieve! Find out more about how our consultant program has changed the lives of many women and how you can get involved.”
EXECUTIVE MANAGER