Is The Body Shop ethical?
RecommendedYes — The Body Shop scores 87/100 on EthiCompare, one of the stronger ratings in our database, with 4 of 4 ethics signals verified.
The Body Shop pioneered mainstream cruelty-free and Fair Trade cosmetics. After several ownership changes (L'Oréal → Natura → Aurelius → Auréa), its post-2024 stewardship is uncertain — the UK arm entered administration in early 2024.
| Check | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cruelty-free | verified | Historic pioneer of not-tested-on-animals cosmetics; Leaping Bunny certified. |
| Vegan options | verified | Explicit 100% vegan formulations from 2023 onward. |
| Sells in mainland China | verified | The brand does not sell through channels that require mainland China post-market testing. |
| Third-party certified | verified | We record 4 distinct certifications across this brand's products. |
| Certifications | on file | Cruelty-Free, B Corp, Vegan, Fair Trade |
Scored with our public methodology. Profile last updated 2026-08-05.
The Body Shop at a glance
The Body Shop offers 2 products on EthiCompare across Beauty & Personal Care, Travel & Luggage, with an average ethics score of 87/10 and recurring certifications including Cruelty-Free, B Corp, Vegan.
Is The Body Shop ethical and cruelty-free? Read the verdict
The Body Shop ethics profile
Updated 8/5/2026The Body Shop pioneered mainstream cruelty-free and Fair Trade cosmetics. After several ownership changes (L'Oréal → Natura → Aurelius → Auréa), its post-2024 stewardship is uncertain — the UK arm entered administration in early 2024.
Certifications
Sustainability pledges
Community Fair Trade sourcing since 1987; refill stations rolled out globally.
Animal testing policy
Historic pioneer of not-tested-on-animals cosmetics; Leaping Bunny certified.
Vegan range
Explicit 100% vegan formulations from 2023 onward.
Sold in mainland China
No — avoids mainland China retail channels.
Sources
Standards & certifications
Verified credentials appearing across The Body Shop's product range.
Ethics breakdown
Average scores across our scoring pillars.
- Animal Welfare96.5/10
- Labor91/10
- Sourcing90.5/10
- Environment85/10
- Transparency83.5/10
Categories covered
Where The Body Shop shows up across our directory.
- Beauty & Personal Care1
- Travel & Luggage1
What reviewers highlight
Strengths mentioned most often across The Body Shop's products.
- ✓Supports Fair Trade farmers
- ✓Affordable ethical option
- ✓Recycled plastic packaging
- ✓Invigorating natural scent
- ✓Instantly lowers skin temperature
- ✓Trusted B-Corp certification
Range at a glance
How consistent The Body Shop is across everything we have scored.
2
products scored
82–92
ethics score range
100%
carry a certification
$
price tiers
| Product | Category | Price | Ethics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ginger & Vitamin C Brightening Body Wash | Beauty & Personal Care | $ | 92 |
| Self-Care & Cooling Travel Kit | Travel & Luggage | $ | 82 |
Sustainability commitments
"Bottle made with recycled plastic collected by waste pickers in India; part of a closed-loop recycling initiative."
"Bottles made from 100% Recycled Plastic; Refillable options available in-store."
Products from The Body Shop
An invigorating, ginger-scented body wash that utilizes Community Fair Trade ingredients and utilizes 100% recycled plastic packaging.
A curated travel-sized kit featuring peppermint cooling sprays and aloe vera, sourced through Community Fair Trade programs in India and Mexico.
Common questions about The Body Shop
Is The Body Shop cruelty-free?+
Cruelty-free credentials appear on part of The Body Shop's range in our data. Check the certification badges on each product page — coverage is rarely brand-wide.
How does The Body Shop score overall?+
The Body Shop averages 87/100 across the 2 products we have scored, using public certifications, sourcing disclosures and controversy records.
Who owns The Body Shop?+
Parent-company ownership changes what your money supports. See our brand ownership map for the current group structure and any conflicting parent-company records.
What are the best alternatives to The Body Shop?+
Our alternatives page ranks comparable products by ethics score with a side-by-side difference table, so you can see exactly which pillar improves.