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Thread: The Body Shop - what a crock!

  1. #1
    katie
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    Default The Body Shop - what a crock!

    A friend bought me some Body Shop lip balm the other day, especially because she knows it's 'cruelty-free'. To my dismay however, upon reading the ingredients I found out it has bloody lanolin in it!!! I am so utterly disappointed, as I thought (naively..) that The Body Shop wouldn't be using animal-sourced ingredients in their products. Was talking to a friend the other day who is a caterer, and at the body shop AGM (or whatever they call it) here in Australia last year they apparently were serving a selection of beef, pork and chicken and out of about 150 attendees only *two* ordered vegetarian meals!! Well needless to say they have lost a good customer...

  2. #2

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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    I just did a research assignment on The Body Shop - not necessarily the "environmentally friendly", "animal loving", "natural" company their campaigns suggest. (Plenty of info available on the web)

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    snaffler's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    The Body Shops only policy is they don't test their products on animals thats it, they are the biggest bunch of fakes going - all that corperate identity is bullshit.

    Screw tham shop at LUSH same prices better products and a massive range of vegan products and a few veggie products.

    No animal testing
    No animal abuse

    Big up lush
    Go confidently in the direction of your dreams

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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Recently while getting their hemp moisturising handcream for my Mum (her request) I enquired about their products and while the staff were friendly and helpful it was not promising - so many things there are vegan unfriendly; even their body brushes contain natural bristle which is pig hair!

    On a happier note I received a parcel in the post today from the wonderful people at Lush! I emailed them with an enquiry regarding my favorite soap that's no longer on their website www.lush.com.au and they are not making it any longer!! Several days later I was sent another email saying they had located the last of it in one of their stores so now I have enough "Middle Earth Turns To Rock" to last me the next decade! Well - if I eke it out carefully.

    Their other things are great including the henna colour bars that I am yet to play with but smell wonderful.

    They sent a courtesy bath bomb (The Sicillian) - all I need now is a bath tub!

    High quality products - vegan sensitive company and fun to boot!

    (ok ok - I am excited )
    "if compassion is extreme, then call me an extremist"

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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    So I rush off to Lush to place an order and two of the tihngs I wanted have lanolin and beeswax in.

    I bloody give up!

    I'm inches away from getting out a saucepan and making my own stuff.

    (Which I actually used to do as a child, once I spent an enormous amout of time and resourses making one tub of rose moisturiser, sold it to my ma at an inflated price, the had to give her a refund when she noticed what I'd done to the roses.)

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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote Nivvie

    I'm inches away from getting out a saucepan and making my own stuff.

    (Which I actually used to do as a child, once I spent an enormous amout of time and resourses making one tub of rose moisturiser, sold it to my ma at an inflated price, the had to give her a refund when she noticed what I'd done to the roses.)
    That is SO cute!
    Dynamic Harmlessness

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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote katie
    A friend bought me some Body Shop lip balm the other day, especially because she knows it's 'cruelty-free'. To my dismay however, upon reading the ingredients I found out it has bloody lanolin in it!!! I am so utterly disappointed, as I thought (naively..) that The Body Shop wouldn't be using animal-sourced ingredients in their products.
    Same thing happened to me, and I didn't have the heart to tell him the lipbalm was unsuitable for me (beeswax).

    I am very disappointed in the BS too, it hardly takes much to refrain from using animal products, does it!!!!!
    Dynamic Harmlessness

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    AR Activist Roxy's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    I don't see what everyone's big gripe with The Body Shop is. I find them to be a much more ethical company than other personal care/cosmetic companies.

    I purchase a number of their products, which are vegan.

    The Body Shop never proclaimed to be a vegetarian company - so it would only be common sense to check the ingredient listing before you purchase.

    They are against animal testing, they support community trade, activate self esteem, defend human rights and help protect our planet. You can read about that here

    What we’re doing
    We do not test our products or ingredients on animals nor do we commission others to do so. To ensure the safety of our products we use alternative ‘non-animal’ tests such as micro-biological analysis using computer modelling and controlled testing on carefully monitored groups of human volunteers. We rigourously monitor all of our suppliers and strictly enforce our Against Animal Testing policy. As a result, we’ve been recognized by the animal protection movement’s prestigious International Standard of Compassion - the only cosmetics company in Canada to receive such recognition.

    In addition to our own purchasing practices, we lobby the government to effect change and encourage the use of alternative tests in the cosmetics industry. We also campaign to raise public awareness and dispel the myths around various “cruelty-free” claims.

  9. #9
    hydrophilic tipsy's Avatar
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    Lightbulb Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote Roxy
    I don't see what everyone's big gripe with The Body Shop is. I find them to be a much more ethical company than other personal care/cosmetic companies.

    I purchase a number of their products, which are vegan.

    The Body Shop never proclaimed to be a vegetarian company - so it would only be common sense to check the ingredient listing before you purchase.

    They are against animal testing, they support community trade, activate self esteem, defend human rights and help protect our planet. You can read about that here
    Yeah, Roxy, but they claim to be "cruelty free"

    im sure we all feel the same about using animal ingredients, and that is cruel if you ask me.
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  10. #10
    Geoff
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    I agree with Roxy. I have never seen / heard any claim by the Body Shop to be 'cruelty free' and I lived with a Body Shop employee (who's vegetarian) for some time.
    They only claim to be 'against animal testing' They also puchase a lot of their ingredients in the 'developing world' and pay a fair price.
    If you're going to say that anything that isn't perfect is 'a crock' you're just going to discourage those who are trying to do the right thing.
    There are no totally ethical companies to my knowledge.
    The vegan products that you buy were probably delivered by a truck whose driver had no compunction in mowing down any kangaroo that got in his way.

  11. #11
    katie
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    point taken Roxy & Geoff - I guess I was just so disappointed, as i thought (assumed) that Body Shop would be a bit better than this. I think the worst part of it was the AGM stuff - and the meat wasn't even free range or organic or anything. I guess they need a bit of education on what factory farming does (well, to start with anyway!) - I wonder whether they'd be in favour of supporting extreme animal cruelty, massive environmental pollution, loss of jobs, corporate greed.... blah blah. I think it's letter-writing time...

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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    This is the one thing I am totally confused with--which products to buy and from which companies!

    Latley, I've been trying to buy products that have the little emblam on the back stating that they do not test on animals.

    As for the ingrediants--I get so confused with the lingo...I look up these words, then I forget which ones I looked up by the time I get to the store.

    Ah well, I try my best. I do love lush products...wish we had one here. My hubby always picks stuff up when he is in Toronto (which is all of the time!).

    There probably isn't a "perfect" company out there, or at least few and far between, but at least I can try to avoid the ones who I know are doing wrong.
    It is challenging to stand as a minority; but doing so sometimes makes a hero.

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    cedartree cedarblue's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    in cambridge, uk, the body shop and lush shop are next door to each other!
    lush always seems to have more customers in it than the BS.

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    just_a_grrrl's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    I was at the body shop and I asked if something I was buying was vegan and the girl working there said taht EVERYTHING was vegan. I bought a few things and then when I got home realised that none of it was actually vegan.
    A good man takes care of his animals, but wicked men are cruel to theirs.
    - Proverbs 12:10

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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    I find it quite ironic sometimes. I purchased soap that wasn't tested on animals but I found out it had tallow in it. So its kinda like "we won't hurt the cute fluffy bunnies, but kill cows? yeah we'll do that"
    "Its bad karma to fuck with the stoned"- Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Comentary (found on criterion collection)

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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote just_a_grrrl
    I was at the body shop and I asked if something I was buying was vegan and the girl working there said taht EVERYTHING was vegan. I bought a few things and then when I got home realised that none of it was actually vegan.
    Yeah, I had a similar experience yesterday - I was looking for some bronzing powder and I thought Aveda were largely vegan and I asked the assistant - she said everything was vegan, then I spotted loads of things with beeswax and honey in them.

    The annoying thing was that she didn't say "ooh, I didn't realise vegans don't use honey" or something like that, which I would have understood. She just went "oh, yes, all the lipsticks have honey or beeswax in them but everything else is fine" - then I found a load of hair stuff with honey in as well! and couldn't resist pointing it out (not in a nasty way, but I just wanted to make her aware that she'd just mislead me), and she was totally unfazed. Probably bad training, to be fair to her.

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    fortified twinkle's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    At least Beauty Without Cruelty are actually without cruelty and state their 100% veganness now (after having silk in some of their foundations for ages - I could never understand that). I have a couple of lipsticks and an eyeliner from them, and their tinted moisturiser is rather nice too. Luckily they have a section in Fenwicks near me.

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    hydrophilic tipsy's Avatar
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    Lightbulb Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote just_a_grrrl
    I was at the body shop and I asked if something I was buying was vegan and the girl working there said taht EVERYTHING was vegan. I bought a few things and then when I got home realised that none of it was actually vegan.
    yeah, ive had this experience too.

    at Origins.... they have this whole "natural" thing going on... so i thought maybe more of thier products would be plant based......nope.

    at the sales girl was like "no there are not animal products in our items" while i pointed out the words glycerin and lanolin!!!

    HELLO! DUH!!!
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    AR Activist Roxy's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote just_a_grrrl
    I was at the body shop and I asked if something I was buying was vegan and the girl working there said taht EVERYTHING was vegan. I bought a few things and then when I got home realised that none of it was actually vegan.
    That really, REALLY sucks! I hope you took the items back and made a fuss about being misled into believing that all of their products were vegan. The girl probably didn't even know what the word "vegan" meant.

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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    ^I think that they girl may have thought that they were vegan, but didn't care that much and didnt want to have to look into to it so she just said that they were. I'm pretty sure that they get commission at the body shop and she didnt want to tell me that it might contain animal products.
    A good man takes care of his animals, but wicked men are cruel to theirs.
    - Proverbs 12:10

  21. #21
    Pink_princes
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    OMG! I can't belive that of one of the shops i trusted they have betrayed all of us, they deserve to be sued. When you buy their products u expect them to be not tested on animals. I'm so disappointed in them!

  22. #22
    Geoff
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote Lilyvazz
    OMG! I can't belive that of one of the shops i trusted they have betrayed all of us, they deserve to be sued. When you buy their products u expect them to be not tested on animals. I'm so disappointed in them!
    Are you saying that Body Shop has products that are tested on animals? Can you name them?

  23. #23
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote just_a_grrrl
    I was at the body shop and I asked if something I was buying was vegan and the girl working there said taht EVERYTHING was vegan. I bought a few things and then when I got home realised that none of it was actually vegan.
    This girl did that to me too! I didn't believe her--I've never seen an all-vegan store. She was showing us this tea tree stuff, and I asked if it was vegan, and she said everything was. Liar. At least I knew better. The 2 things I got appeared vegan. I e-mailed the Body Shop when I got home, and this what they said:

    Dear Customer,

    Thank you for your email and interest in The Body Shop! The Body Shop(r) is
    not a vegetarian or vegan company. However the vast majority of our
    products contain no animal derived ingredients.

    We aim to avoid the use of animal-derived ingredients wherever possible and
    specify non-animal ingredients whenever there is a choice. All our soaps,
    for example, use a vegetable base rather than the commonly used animal-fat
    base.

    Gelatin, beeswax, honey, milk, shellac and lanolin are the only product
    ingredients knowingly used by The Body Shop(r) which do not comply with the
    most current definition of Vegan. Where synthetic forms or derivatives of
    these materials are available, such as lactic acid, these are always
    specified for our formulations.

    Please know that all product ingredients are posted online at
    www.thebodyshop.com. Once you have clicked on the product you are
    interested in, select the "All Ingredients" tab found below the product.

    Feel free to contact us again if you have any further questions.

    Sincerely,

    Genetta Bullock
    Customer Care Coordinator
    Americas Region

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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    That's quite a good response to me, I think it shows that they do know what they are talking about in head office (not the staff though - abysmal!!!) but it really frustrates me that a company I see as 'green' can't go that one more step and go properly vegan - it's just not that difficult, is it, and think what a wider target audience they would reach.
    Dynamic Harmlessness

  25. #25
    ConsciousCuisine
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    The Body Shop's products are far from "natural"...they are full of toxic chemicals and synthetics. I wouldn't ever use anything they make, unless of course, they come up with a truly natural, truly vegan product!

  26. #26
    Pink_princes
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote Geoff
    Are you saying that Body Shop has products that are tested on animals? Can you name them?
    oh sorry i was meant to say of what i have read on here that some objects contain animal pieces

  27. #27
    AR Activist Roxy's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    I quite like the Body Shop and would support them any day over companies like Proctor and Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive or any of these big cosmetic companies that test their products on animals.

    The Body Shop around here also supports different community efforts which I think is great and something that puts them a step ahead of the rest in my eyes. They recently took up a collection of unwanted cell phones. We donated our old cell phone as it was going to be refurbished and donated to a local women's shelter.

    The Body Shop also supports community and fair trade which I think is awesome!

  28. #28
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote Veganbear
    This girl did that to me too! I didn't believe her--I've never seen an all-vegan store. She was showing us this tea tree stuff, and I asked if it was vegan, and she said everything was. Liar. At least I knew better. The 2 things I got appeared vegan. I e-mailed the Body Shop when I got home, and this what they said:

    Dear Customer,

    Thank you for your email and interest in The Body Shop! The Body Shop(r) is
    not a vegetarian or vegan company. However the vast majority of our
    products contain no animal derived ingredients.

    We aim to avoid the use of animal-derived ingredients wherever possible and
    specify non-animal ingredients whenever there is a choice. All our soaps,
    for example, use a vegetable base rather than the commonly used animal-fat
    base.

    Gelatin, beeswax, honey, milk, shellac and lanolin are the only product
    ingredients knowingly used by The Body Shop(r) which do not comply with the
    most current definition of Vegan. Where synthetic forms or derivatives of
    these materials are available, such as lactic acid, these are always
    specified for our formulations.

    Please know that all product ingredients are posted online at
    www.thebodyshop.com. Once you have clicked on the product you are
    interested in, select the "All Ingredients" tab found below the product.

    Feel free to contact us again if you have any further questions.

    Sincerely,

    Genetta Bullock
    Customer Care Coordinator
    Americas Region
    how horrible. she says's "We aim to avoid the use of animal-derived ingredients wherever possible and specify non-animal ingredients whenever there is a choice"....ummm...no you don't...because you are still using animal ingredients when there is substitutes. Why can't they just go vegan, i'ts not hard, and they would increase their clientele because the people who are already buying their products would continue and then vegans would as well.
    A good man takes care of his animals, but wicked men are cruel to theirs.
    - Proverbs 12:10

  29. #29
    Kumem's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote just_a_grrrl
    how horrible. she says's "We aim to avoid the use of animal-derived ingredients wherever possible and specify non-animal ingredients whenever there is a choice"....ummm...no you don't...because you are still using animal ingredients when there is substitutes. Why can't they just go vegan, i'ts not hard, and they would increase their clientele because the people who are already buying their products would continue and then vegans would as well.
    I went to a meeting today with a company that produces products for them and was reliably told that some of the ingredients used in production of their products are tested on animals. It is only the final product that isn't.

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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    There are plenty of places on the internet to buy vegan products, so I'll do that in future, rather than going to the Body Shop (it's years since I've been there anyway).

    It's not likely that they'll "go vegan": we're a very small percentage of the population, so why would they bother to accommodate us? Most people (especially businesses) don't share our idea of what's cruel - e.g. "it's wrong to test cosmetics on animals, but it's vital to test drugs on them".

  31. #31
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote Tokenvegan
    There are plenty of places on the internet to buy vegan products, so I'll do that in future, rather than going to the Body Shop (it's years since I've been there anyway).

    It's not likely that they'll "go vegan": we're a very small percentage of the population, so why would they bother to accommodate us? Most people (especially businesses) don't share our idea of what's cruel - e.g. "it's wrong to test cosmetics on animals, but it's vital to test drugs on them".
    The thing is though that we are getting bigger and the more people express their concerns about using products that are derived from or tested on animals, the more companies will think about it.
    I have only been vegan for a short time in comparison to some on here and from what I have heard, 20 years ago vegan food that we get today is a lot broader in a product sense.
    We just need to collectively badger companies.

  32. #32
    Jo1234
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    i use to buy stuff from there but i dont no more

  33. #33

    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    I complained to the BUAV regarding their "Cruelty free" listings of animal products sans the testing. Body Shop are among these and can't even claim any of their products are vegan suited officially.

  34. #34

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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    I'm a bit confused by the whole thing - it would be so nice to find just one mainstream company that's fully vegan! I know I'm being lazy but wouldn't it make life sooooooo much easier...?

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    AR Activist Roxy's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote Kumem
    I went to a meeting today with a company that produces products for them and was reliably told that some of the ingredients used in production of their products are tested on animals. It is only the final product that isn't.
    It must be different in the U.K. than it is in Canada. Although, I don't know why it would be. Here's a quote from The Body Shop's Canadian website.

    What we believe
    The Body Shop has always been against animal testing for both cosmetic products and ingredients. We believe that animal testing will only stop when people put pressure on the cosmetics industry and on governments.


    What we’re doing
    We do not test our products or ingredients on animals nor do we commission others to do so. To ensure the safety of our products we use alternative ‘non-animal’ tests such as micro-biological analysis using computer modelling and controlled testing on carefully monitored groups of human volunteers. We rigourously monitor all of our suppliers and strictly enforce our Against Animal Testing policy. As a result, we’ve been recognized by the animal protection movement’s prestigious International Standard of Compassion - the only cosmetics company in Canada to receive such recognition.

    In addition to our own purchasing practices, we lobby the government to effect change and encourage the use of alternative tests in the cosmetics industry. We also campaign to raise public awareness and dispel the myths around various “cruelty-free” claims.

  36. #36
    told me to Mr Flibble's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    I went on the body shop factory tour soon after it became a household name, because the factory is nearby where we used to live and my mother was a geography teacher who was into such things like recycling, the environment and such like. I remember being shown around and someone else on the tour asking "does bodyshop test on animals". The answer was "The Bodyshop is against animal testing". So, the person asked "yes, but does it actually test on animals". "The Bodyshop is against animal testing". "Yes, but against isn't the same as doesn't". The tour guide looked a bit sheepish and changed the subject. She'd obviously only been trained how to answer the question one way.

    Since I've never seen the bodyshop say they don't test on animals, only that they're against it. I'm against being overweight and pro healthy eating, but I still eat too much crap and do too little exercise. Being against something isn't the same as not doing it.
    "Mr Flibble - forum corruptor of innocents!!" - Hemlock

  37. #37
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Two or three years ago, I went into three branches of the Body Shop and asked members of staff whether various products contained any animal ingredients. In one shop I was told 'no, we're against animal testing'. I said 'yes, but (repeating myself) does the product contain any animal ingredients?'. Then it was 'umm, let's see what it says on the label', followed by 'oh this has got lanolin but it comes from wool so it's not an animal ingredient' (I wonder why she mentioned it then) . I said that actually it is, because wool comes from sheep. Then she agreed, but still looking a bit puzzled. She then went to get a file which contained lists of all their products and ingredients, but didn't seem able to make much sense of it and suggested I could wait for a certain member of staff to return from lunch who might be able to help.

    The other assistant appeared a couple of minutes later and had a look at the lists but seemed quite bewildered and couldn't tell me what I wanted to know either, but did admit to being surprised that they even used animal products! I remarked (politely) that I was disappointed in the lack of information available and would be writing to their head office (which I did, but their reply wasn't very helpful either). The other two shops were more or less the same experience.

    I'm thinking maybe it's time I paid them another visit, see if anything's changed. If not, hopefully one or two customers standing nearby might overhear something that makes them think.......

  38. #38
    sugarmouse
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    they have an image to keep up.it works unfortunatly

  39. #39
    AR Activist Roxy's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Well, I have to admit - I have stopped using their antipersperant. I started using it once I became vegan, as I didn't want to use any of the supermarket brands - and I wanted an antipersperant not a deoderant.

    Anyway, for various reasons, I have now stopped using antipersperant and opt for a natural deoderant. One of the reasons for this was because of the aluminium in antipersperant and how unhealthy this is. During my research, I found that the body shop antipersperant contained more aluminum than regular supermarket brands (such as Proctor and Gamble brands).

    At the moment, the only thing I am using from the body shop is an eye-makeup remover.

    I dunno though - I still have to say that I think they are a better brand than many others, who produce similar products.

  40. #40
    Maisiepaisie's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    I would rather just buy products from companies where everything is vegan and natural then you know what you are getting. These products are so much nicer. My faves are:
    www.honestycosmetics.co.uk
    www.faithproducts.com

  41. #41
    pixeequeen's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    My brother has started working at the body shop in human resources or something, and has been on the warpath as it were with me. I have never bought anything from the Body Shop, for no particular reason except that I'm not hugely into cosmetics. I never thought that they would be vegan really, though have always respected it's anti-animal testing stance, and it has done A LOT for bringing the mainstream use of animal testing into the public eye by this.
    Anyway what was my point, oh yes, my brother, Tom, has become very into his job, and the business. he is not vego, but due to health reasons is vitrually vegan, and because of this and having me as a sis, has become quite 'vegan sympathetic'. Trying to persuade me to buy body shop, he has done his research into what is vegan, and as I think I saw earlier in this thread, while they do not label or proclaim any specific produce as vegan, they do identify a list of 5 or so ingredients that are the only things that we would need to watch out for. I will dig out an email he sent me in a sec. I can't quite understand why they don't simply take it a little step further and label things vegan if they are but there you go.
    The point is, that some stuff is vegan at the body shop, and alongside its community rading, charity fundraising and other stuff (Tom tells me today we are all getting Body shop seconds as xmas presents cos there is a staff charity sale in aid of 'kids on the edge' next week) my bro has convinced me that they are worth a look.

    So what is this cosmetics malarky about? Should I be using deoderant? make-up? I still don't understand what 'toner' is all about. anyway I digress....
    I may howeever, investigate one of the trillion body shops in Nottingham finally this week!
    www.myspace.com/natureworks1

  42. #42
    pixeequeen's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    So this is what he emailed me (apologies for only cutting and pasting...)



    "Thank you for your enquiry about products from The Body Shop that are suitable for vegans.

    The Body Shop is not and has never claimed to be a vegetarian or vegan company and as such we do use some animal-derived ingredients.

    There are only four animal derived ingredients that are used by The Body Shop. Although we are sure that you are aware of these, here is a list of top line ingredients vegans would want to avoid, together with their Latin names:

    Beeswax Latin – Cera Alba
    Lanolin Latin – Lanolin
    Honey Latin - Mel
    Gelatin Latin – Gelatin (Bath Beads only)

    We cannot comment on the processes that an ingredient may have been put through and we do not know of any other cosmetics company who can. For example, if an ingredient has been processed using charcoal – the charcoal may have come from animal bones or a vegetable source – such as wood. Some of our ingredients are made up of over 200 components and we, therefore, cannot guarantee that any of our products are totally acceptable for a vegan with regard to processes.

    Unfortunately Gelatin is the only material in the cosmetic industry that is compatible with the types of ingredients in our Bath Beads. We are working vigorously to achieve a vegetarian based alternative. We anticipate that the technology will continue to advance and that within a short period we will be able to produce bath beads with soft shells made from vegetable derived ingredients. The Body Shop policy on the use of animal by-products is very clear. It stipulates that, "we strive to avoid using materials in our products which are slaughter by-products. Where this is not possible, we will work towards finding replacements".

    Please also note that the hog's hair in our Wooden Shaving Brush is the by-product of the meat industry. We have made attempts to source a synthetic alternative to hog's hair, however, we have been unable to find a material with the necessary functionality and efficacy that is required for the product.

    We hope this information goes some way towards answering your queries and we look forward to seeing you in one of our stores in the very near future. You can also ask for help from our shop staff who are on hand to assist you in choosing the right product."


    On a complete side note, did you know body shop don't do any advertising? (not in the normal sense of the term anyway). There ethics and shop presence seems to do all the work they need. Interestin I thought, cos I hate advertising and it's attempts to brainwash us all!
    www.myspace.com/natureworks1

  43. #43
    princessemma
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Wow! What an eye-opener. So a company is perfectley allowed to say they are against animal testing and get other companies to test the ingredients for them that's disgusting! I'll never buy anything in there again. Not that I do very often anyway.

  44. #44
    fortified twinkle's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Pixiequeen - that's a much more complete and useful response than I got when I wrote to them a couple of years ago (I had to send them the letter through the post because I couldn't find an email address!). Maybe they're slowly becoming more aware of the issues, which has got to be a good thing.

  45. #45
    coconut's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    At least they are honest in the e-mail they sent you pixeequeen. Body Shop have AGAINST ANIMAL TESTING on everything they sell but that's a pretty loose term. Public opinion is clearly more against using animals to test cosmetics, than using animals bodies in the making of cosmetics. Both practices are equally offensive and unnecessary. I used to shop at their stores. In fact I've just found my old 'love your body' discount card in my wallet. *Snip snip*

  46. #46
    Lily's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    Quote coconut
    At least they are honest in the e-mail they sent you pixeequeen. Body Shop have AGAINST ANIMAL TESTING on everything they sell but that's a pretty loose term.
    Yeah, well that's what's done it for me. I sometimes thought about that when I used to buy stuff from them, that those actual words don't necessarily mean they *don't* test on animals. I just always *assumed* they didn't, in my naivety I thought that's what they were all about, and I think all my friends thought the same. And I don't believe that most people who buy their products would even be aware that you get animal ingredients in cosmetics, any cosmetics, not just theirs. (Apart from obvious things like milk or honey). It's just not really what people tend to think about, is it? (vegans excepted, of course!)

    But although I feel 'cheated', I can't blame them for how I had interpreted some words they put on their products, even if I do think they'e been very sly. I feel I've been misled .

    Body Shop is definitely on my boycott list.

  47. #47
    pixeequeen's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    I don't understand why you're all so angry at body shop? no, they're not perfect, but is it just me that looks at the positives when so few companies have any?In a mainly non-vegan world, the body shop have potential. and you should remember, that the body shop made animal testing an issue when people had never thought about it beofre. *if* they do use stuff that other companies have animal tested then they do need a huge kick up the arse but maybe they dont, dont jump to conclusions so easily and look at their good points.
    I would just rather save my aggression for other more deserving companies, if we can't accept all non-perfect companies, I don't think I could handle living in such negativity (its hard enough as it is)
    www.myspace.com/natureworks1

  48. #48
    princessemma
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    You're probably right! At least Body Shop are trying to be an ethical company unlike say dare I mention McDonalds. It just seems a bit wrong for them to sell hogs hair brushes. A friend of mine who compaigns all the time against animal testing went nuts when he saw a member of staff using Pledge polish in our local branch because that product is animal tested.

  49. #49
    AR Activist Roxy's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    They do have potential and as long as they keep hearing from people like us, then I'm sure they will be encouraged to do the right thing.

    In Canada, the Body Shop do community support work and I love the fact that they support community and fair trade.

    I used to buy quite a few things from the Body Shop, but admittedly, I don't anymore as I have discovered other, more natural brands which I have wanted to try.

    If it came down to it though, I would much prefer to give my dollars to The Body Shop than Proctor & Gamble. However as it stands, neither company has received any of my money for quite some time.

  50. #50
    coconut's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Body Shop - what a crock!

    I suppose it comes down to where you live. I live in a city where 100% vegan/non-animal tested cosmetics are available in a number of places. If you live in a place where the vegan community isn't catered to at all, then Body Shop is way more preferable to a supermarket or Boots.

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