The Body Shop

[MsRuthieB]

Great Products! It actually didn't say on their website that there absolutely was not any animal ingredients in their products, so I contacted Corporate Headquarters and was told that they absolutely do not use animal anything in their products. They are also against animal testing and do not use products from other companies that test on animals! I love this store! The current Cranberries line and new Moon Flower line is out of this world!

Plus, they just dramatically expanded their makeup line.

They have a very, very cool website.

http://www.thebodyshop.com/web/tbsgl/index.jsp

[Funkified]

ever tried their body butter? amazing! the mango, coffee and nut flavors are pretty freakin' kick ass.

[MsRuthieB]

I love all of the body butter.. specially the nut one. I love the way my feet feel when I rub 'em down at night and put my socks back on. They are oh so soft in the morning.

[MsRuthieB]

I'm a bath stuff-smell goods-junkie! If I decided to give up my addiction to lotions, powders, perfumes, etc. etc. I could have a two day yard sale and still not run out of merchandise

[soilman]

I can't find any ingredient lists. For all I know, it is possible to make the each item, at a much lower cost, by buying its ingredients separately.

[MsRuthieB]

Originally posted by soilman
I can't find any ingredient lists. For all I know, it is possible to make the each item, at a much lower cost, by buying its ingredients separately.

I thought the same thing too a few weeks ago when I was on their site. So, I emailed them and they said they'd get back to me in 7 business day (they never did though). I had asked them how where to get the ingredient listing without having to physically go to their store (what if I wanted to shop online)? They never responded. I then called their customer service line. She said she could tell me what was in a specific item if I wanted to know, but to give me a listing for every item isn't possible. She reinterated to me that their products do not contain any animal ingredients however (since I told her that was my main concern and I wanted to verify it for myself). It's odd that they just don't have some way you can click on a product and see it's ingredients.

[Thalia]

I would think that if Body Shop had absolutely no animal derived ingredients, they'd put that on there. I'm just wondering if this woman on the phone really knew what she was talking about.

[MsRuthieB]

Yeah. I thought the same thing. I would think that if that was the case (no animal ingredients), why wouldn't it be advertised? I would think that would be capitalized on. Maybe the woman is confused and thinks because the company doesn't test on animals or use products from companys that test on animals that there aren't animal products used in the making of their product. Anyone that can solidly prove it either way it would be greatly appreciated. I've always used quite a bit of their products and this is really bugging me that I can't find a good answer. I would feel better if I could find it in writing somewhere.

[MsRuthieB]

Here's what I've found so far.

The Body Shop is pure evil; they use ethics as a big marketing ploy so I'm not even sure if they deserve to be on this page. Do any of their products not contain beeswax? They are also fond of lanolin, gelatin, milk and honey. They have leather sofas in their Toronto headquarters. The company is for "animal protection." They used to claim they would find an "ethical" source of lanolin by the end of 1997 and for the rest of their animal byproducts by 2000. Nicely point out that there is no such thing.
*Source www.vegatus.org re: non-veg*n products

The Body Shop. If you wish to purchase products from the Body Shop, ask the clerk to see the product information sheet. Some managers of the Body Shop instruct their employees to tell customers that a product does not contain animal products and has not been tested on animals, even though this could be false information. Buyer Beware! (from someone who used to work at the body shop)
*Source www.ivu.org (international vegetarian union) re: faq

Some Body Shop items contain animal products such as gelatine (crushed bone).
As the Body Shop rely so heavily on their 'green', 'caring' image, they have threatened or brought legal action against some of those who have criticised them, trying to stifle legitimate public discussion.
*Source: London Greenpeace
http://www.mcspotlight.org/beyond/co.../bodyshop.html

Wow this really makes me mad! If there's one thing I can't stand is a liar! Well, they've just lost a customer. I have to take my recommendation for this company back. Shop there at your own risk.

[soilman]

MsRuthieB, when you said "i contacted corporate headquarters" I erroneously assumed that you wrote them a letter and you wrote them back.!!! Now i realize I didn't stop to ask whether they wrote you, or spoke to you on the phone, or what.

I ought to add that you can't really rely on what someone says on the telephone, about a product. If you really want to know whether there are animal ingredients in a product, you need a statement on the company's letterhead, saying so -- at the very least. Even that could be a deception. But relying on telephone conversations alone is practically asking to be deceived.