The Body Shop

Founded in 1976 in Brighton by animal rights and environmental activist Anita Roddick, The Body Shop is one of the UK’s most high-profile retailers.

The ethical beauty retailer’s product line comprises skincare, bath and body ranges, makeup, perfumes and vegan ranges. It uses ingredients directly sourced from the native countries.

Like its rival Lush, The Body Shop has campaigned passionately against animal testing since its inception. The Body Shop’s multiple campaigns against animal testing have resulted in the banning of animal testing and marketing of animal tested products in the UK and across the EU.

The Body Shop was owned by L’Oreal from 2006 until it was acquired by Brazilian cosmetics manufacturer Natura Cosméticos in September 2017.

In 2018, there were around 3,000 stores across nearly 70 countries around the world, with around 2,000 of them being franchised. There are just under 250 stores in the UK.

Recently, The Body Shop has been keen to revive its activist heritage, with new store concepts unveiled that feature its commitment to sustainability, such as refill stations for shower gels, and encouraging customers to suggest issues they want the retailer to tackle.

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