WE’RE B CORP™ CERTIFIED

CAN WE GET A HIGH FIVE? THE BODY SHOP HAS JOINED THE BEST CLUB ON THE PLANET.

B Corps are businesses that live the highest social and environmental standards for people and the planet. It’s how we’ve always done business. It’s in our DNA. Now we have the stamp to prove it. Discover what it means and what it takes to become a B Corp and Triple Bottom Line business. While you’re reading, please excuse us while we do a quick backflip to celebrate.

"Business shapes the world. It is capable of changing society in any way you can imagine."

Dame Anita Roddick

FOUNDER OF THE BODY SHOP

BALANCING PURPOSE AND PROFIT

Dame Anita Roddick wanted to start a new kind of business – one that balances purpose and profit. The Body Shop has now amended our governing documents to reflect a Triple Bottom Line business. This means that we strive to balance people, planet and profit. A true Triple Bottom Line business doesn’t just measure success in financial terms, but also through ensuring it understands its social and environmental impact, too. This helps challenge the global economic system that actually causes lots of these social and environmental problems.

We understand that society’s biggest problems can’t just be solved by governments and non-profits alone. B Corps work towards addressing these issues through business – like tackling inequality and poverty and the creation of high-quality jobs.

SO, WHAT IS A B CORP?

In 2019, we became a certified B Corp. That is a business that meets the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. B Corps don’t just care about profit – they care about people and the planet too. That’s how we’ve always done business – we just wanted to make it official.

There are currently over 3,000 B Corps in 150 industries and 60 countries across the globe. We’re officially the biggest B Corp ever to be founded by a woman – pioneer Dame Anita Roddick. We’re delighted to join the club, but social and environmental activism has been part of our DNA since we were founded in 1976. Now, we’re determined to continue our mission more than ever.

WHY IS IT GOOD TO BE A B CORP?

Like our founder, Dame Anita Roddick, B Corps are champions of using business as a force for good. We’re joining a rapidly growing number of B Corps committed to driving change in business and society. Harnessing the power of business, B Corps use profits and growth to create a positive impact for their employees, communities and the environment. B Corps work together across the globe for reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities and the creation of jobs with dignity and purpose. They want to inspire other companies to join them.

Women carrying baskets of fruit on their heads

HOW DID WE BECOME A B CORP?

The B Corp assessment measures a business’s performance in five key categories – governance, workers, customers, community and the environment – using credible, independent and verifiable standards of social and environmental performance.

HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE INITIATIVES THAT HELPED US MEET B CORP CERTIFICATION:

ACTIVIST CAMPAIGNING

Our history of engaging customers in our activist campaigns, including Forever Against Animal Testing.

INFLUENCING LEGISLATION

We also played a big role in influencing legislation and speaking to lawmakers and stakeholders about this topic to end animal testing in cosmetics worldwide for good.

RECYCLING

The launch of our in store recycling scheme and the offsetting of energy use in our stores that isn’t green energy.

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteering days involving our 8,000+ employees across the globe.

TRAINING AND ENGAGING OUR TEAMS

Training and engaging teams around the world on our B Corp mission and on the importance of being a Triple Bottom Line business.

COMMITMENT

Our commitment to helping empower people and communities around the world through our Community Fair Trade programme. We’ve been sourcing ingredients and accessories from expert producers and artisans in exchange for a fair price for over 30 years.

WHAT’S OUR B CORP SCORE?

Businesses need a score of 80 points or above to achieve B Corp certification. We’re proud to exceed this already high standard and we look forward to achieving an even higher score when we next certify. You can view our impact assessment here.

B Corp certification is managed by B Lab. B Lab is a non-profit that serves a global movement of entrepreneurs, using the power of business to solve social and environmental issues. Its vision is that all businesses across the globe will measure and manage their impact with the same attention as they do to profit.

To maintain our B Corp certification, we need to continue documenting our positive impact to qualify and undergo re-certification every three years.

WHAT OTHER B CORP BRANDS ARE THERE?

Some of the most admired brands in the world are B Corp certified, including Ben & Jerry’s, Patagonia and our parent company, Natura. These were all friends of and inspirations to our founder, Dame Anita Roddick.