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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
7.12.2007 - 07:35pm ET
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The Body Shop Announces New Initiative on Sustainable Palm Oil to Tackle Global Threat to Biodiversity
The Body Shop Calls for Urgent Action from Global Retailers
(CSRwire) NEW YORK, NY - July 12, 2007 - The Body Shop International today
became the first cosmetics and toiletries retailer to introduce
sustainable palm oil into the global beauty industry. The company
has made this pioneering move as a response to the continued and rapid
destruction of the world’s ancient rainforests caused by irresponsible
palm oil production, by working in partnership with Daabon, a certified
organic producer in Colombia, which works extensively with local
cooperatives.
This move represents a major practical step by a global retailer and
equates to 14.5 million bars of soap sold per annum in more than 2,200
stores across 57 countries across the world, with these soaps sold in more
than 300 stores across the United States.
For almost 20 years, Daabon has focused on certified organic production,
and has since started focusing on social standards, such as SA8000,
Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance. Peter Saunders, Chief Executive
Officer of The Body Shop said today: "The switch to sustainable
palm oil is a landmark step forward for The Body Shop and a
potentially groundbreaking development for the whole cosmetics industry.
Many people who use soap everyday will be unaware that they are
contributing to a major environmental catastrophe: the destruction of
ancient rainforests and the extinction of endangered species."
The Body Shop is now calling on other manufacturers and retailers
to follow their lead to help slow the drastic environmental and social
effects of unsustainable production and ensure that within the next two to
three years, the majority of palm oil is produced sustainably. Mr.
Saunders notes that "this will not be achieved by The Body
Shop in isolation – our decision must inspire other businesses to
join us and tackle the problem head on."
Matthias Diemer, palm oil expert, WWF Switzerland, commented:
"The Body Shop is the first global cosmetics company to
introduce sustainable palm oil into its product lines…and we hope that
many more companies will follow suit."
Palm oil is one of the world's most popular vegetable oils. It is
used in countless everyday items including cosmetics, household products
and foods and is regularly consumed by over a billion people worldwide.
A huge growth in demand – a six-fold increase since the mid 1980s
– has led to the clearance of vast areas of primary rainforests for
plantations, particularly in South East Asia.
At current rates of destruction, around 1.3m hectares of forest –
equating to around six football pitches per minute – will be cleared
this year in Borneo alone to allow for new plantations.
Production impacts on the rights of indigenous populations, often
creates poor labor conditions and has severe health implications for women
working on the plantations.
Deforestation's most drastic effect is on endangered animal species
such as orang-utans in Borneo and Sumatra, Sumatran rhinoceros and Asian
elephant and tigers, all of which are heading towards extinction due to
the loss of natural habitat.
The Body Shop has focused on tackling the palm oil issue for some
years and is a leading figure on the global Roundtable on Sustainable Palm
Oil (RSPO). Mr. Diemer "applaud(s) the pioneering role The
Body Shop has taken in helping to formulate strong standards for
sustainable palm oil production through the RSPO." Today, over 250
organizations have committed themselves to finding solutions to the grave
issues posed by palm oil production, including a number of major retailers
who now make up a 20 strong group within the RSPO. The Body Shop now
calls for more retailers to join the RSPO, and for those who have already
made this commitment to begin sourcing RSPO certified sustainable palm oil
as soon as it becomes available later this year.
Background:
Palm oil is an important and versatile raw ingredient, accounting for
more than 29 million tonnes of the world’s annual 95 million tonnes of
vegetable oil.
Sustainable palm oil production means far less destructive planting
methods, and therefore protects rainforest biodiversity. Through The Body
Shop Foundation, the retailer has provided practical advice to plantations
and advocated the inclusion of small-scale farmers by funding projects for
small-holders to help make this happen in other parts of the world.
The Body Shop has commissioned an audit of the Daabon operation to
ensure that neither environment, people nor wildlife are under threat from
the cultivation of palm oil. The audit used the Principles & Criteria
developed by the stakeholders of the RSPO, which will form the basis of a
certification scheme for sustainable palm oil by the end of 2007.
The Body Shop will continue to positively engage with the major
players in the palm oil supply chain to encourage the switch to an
effective sustainable option. The RSPO has developed a set of Principles &
Criteria for the Production of Sustainable Palm Oil and a full
certification scheme is expected to be finalised in November 2007
In the meantime, move to sustainable palm oil by The Body Shop means
that the business can ensure that its use of palm oil does not contribute
to deforestation and that conditions can begin to improve within the
industry.
About The Body Shop
The Body Shop offers approximately 1,200 skincare, cosmetics and
toiletries products in more than 330 retail locations in the Unites
States. Globally, The Body Shop has more than has more than 2,000 stores
in over 57 countries.
Community Trade is a special trading program created by The Body Shop,
sourcing naturals and accessory items from disadvantaged communities
across the world. The program’s aim is to satisfy our demand for natural
ingredients, gifts and accessories in a fair way, in turn bringing
sustainable benefits to those communities.
A global retailer of high quality toiletries and cosmetics, we are also
committed to environmental protection and respect for human rights. We
develop trading relationships with communities in need; we are against
animal testing in the cosmetics industry; and we encourage education,
awareness and community involvement among their staff and customers. Visit
The Body Shop online at www.thebodyshopinternational.com
and www.thebodyshop.com.
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