Sustainable business

When Anita Roddick created the Body Shop following her activist and ethical principles, it made the company an example of sustainable business. In the video below, a speech she delivered to entrepreneurs in the British Library, she emphasizes and expands in a point mentioned in the last posting: how powerful business is in our society. Anita believes that along with the power, companies should have a sense of responsibility. The Body Shop is a company that, in Anita’s words “prove you can make a profit and can make contribution to the society.

This speech was given a few months after the Body Shop had been acquired by L’oreal. Since the acquisition The Body Shop was highly criticized as we can see in this article from the Independent.

Body Shop's popularity plunges after L'Oreal sale - The Independent - Apr 10, 2006

In the 2003, documentary The Corporation, The Body Shop is mentioned in a scene a member of the public refers to the company as deceiving.

The Body Shop, before and after L’oreal acquisition, is an example on how sustainability and CSR can affect a company’s reputation therefore how crucial it is for communicator to be involved in the CSR function.