Everyone knew that they were the best when it came to cruelty-free makeup and that their products were kick-ass. In 2006 however The Body Shop stated the shocking news that they were going to be sold to L'Oreal, which is definitely not cruelty-free (although they state that their products haven't been tested on animals since 1989 they do test new ingredients on animals which is exactly as shitty!). Despite the overtake, The Body Shop is going to hold on to their non-animal-testing policy, and hope to be able to push their parental company in the right direction in the future, which is of course great.
So, here comes the dilemma:
Is it OK to buy products from The Body Shop although they are owned by a company that do test on animals?
On one hand, it is great to support a company that for so many years has been against animal testing. On the other, the money will go to L'Oreal who is one of the big bad guys in this matter.
What do you guys think?
And finally; March 11 2013 is probably going to be the date when all animal tested cosmetic products (and yes, that includes products whose ingredients has been tested on animals too...) will be banned from the European countries (at least the countries who are part of the EU). However, the politicians seem to be getting cold feet about this. Sign this form to let them know that we want no delay or compromise on this new ban!
Thank you for reading and have a lovely day/evening/night or whatever it is in your part of this world. :)
I didn't know The Body Shop is owned by L'Oreal. This effects my decision to buy from them now as I get my skin care from them. Ugh. Thank you for keeping me informed!
SvaraRaderaI was aware that L'Oreal owns The Body Shop and have been struggling with the same 'dilemma' as you. :/ I haven't bought from L'Oreal neither from The Body Shop anything for a while now. :S
SvaraRadera(I would like to buy from The Body Shop, but...)
There's no dilemma for me, I don't buy from them.
SvaraRaderaThink of it this way, if another company that tested on animals, brought out a range that didn't use animal tested ingredients in that range but still used them in all of their other ranges, would you buy from them?
Står och väger lite på samma bräda där.. Fast i mina beslut hamnar att jag stödjer TBS, att jag inte tvekar ifall det är något jag vill ha därifrån. De vägrar sälja i Kina, vilket ändå är sådär stort om man jämför med andra cf-företag.. Visserligen går lite av pengarna säkert till Loreal, men större delen av det går åtminstonde till ett bra förtag, i en dålig värld ^^
SvaraRaderaDet känns inte direkt som samma företag sedan grundaren sålde till L'oreal.
SvaraRaderaI think yes - buy from the Body Shop. Numbers are what drives corporations. If they see that cruelty-free lines are bringing in money, they will realise that cruelty-free is important to consumers and affects their decisions about which products to buy. Once corporation see that good money can be made by going that route, more cruelty-free products will result. Especially if their cruelty-free lines begin to rival,or even surpass their animal tested lines.
SvaraRaderaI've heard the same argument that Zillah raises- if you only buy the cruelty-free labels of a giant umbrella brand, it sends a message that those labels are doing something right (i.e; not torturing rabbits for the sake of our vanity). Send them a letter telling them why you're buying The Body Shop over another one of their labels. I'd imagine that the industry had to have noticed the massive backlash Urban Decay felt when they announced that they'd be selling in China- maybe they're primed to hear it.
SvaraRaderaHello everyone and thank you for the response! :)
SvaraRaderaI think there are good arguments from both sides here. Personally I don't think I'm going to buy anything from The Body Shop anytime soon but I think I could do that if there was a product that I really wanted to have from them. As Zillah and TanteFledermaus say; it is a good way to show L'Oreal that we do care about animal testing. And to be honest I think they bought The Body Shop because they know that in a near future there will be a ban on animal testing in the industry and they wanted to own a company that has already reached the cruelty-free goal.