Business Leaders

Anita Roddick is the founder of The Body Shop, a global retail chain of more than 2000 stores that sells “green” and ethically produced body creams and cosmetic accessories. Roddick’s store became one of the ideal models for ethical consumerism, as it was one of the first companies to forbid the utilization of ingredients that were tested on animals. In addition, it was also one of the first to promote fair trade with third world countries. As a successful business leader, Roddick used her earnings to become a leader that would contribute to bettering the world.

Roddick has used her financial success to influence change in establishing various charities, and in continuing to have her business, The Body Shop, practice its dedication to its core values. The Body Shop’s philosophy continues to expand to this day. Roddick has expressed that she and her business have the power to do good. Hence she has dedicated her business to the pursuit of social and environmental change. Through the use of the Body Shop and their green products, they help spread awareness concerning human rights and various environmental issues.

Before establishing The Body Shop, Roddick was born in the town of Littlehampton in the United Kingdom in October 23, 1942 to two Italian immigrants, Gilda and Donny Perella. Once Roddick had finished her schooling to be a teacher, she took a trip around the world, before coming back to England and marrying her partner Gordon Roddick.

Eventually, Anita Roddick opened the first Body Shop store to aid her family. The Body Shop opened with fifteen cosm

etic products that were sold in small, recyclable bottles. This was to keep start up costs as low as possible. In due course, Roddick turned to the concept of self-financing more new stores, which eventually began the growth of the franchise network in which The Body Shop was established in various locations across the world. With its quality products and with an ethical philosophy, Roddick’s business eventually went public in 1984.

However, as The Body Shop grew, Roddick's social awareness and her passion for the environment and human rights developed as well. The five values that The Body Shop still abides by are:

* Against Animal Testing—The Body Shop believes that testing cosmetic products on animals is unethical, unnecessary and should be banned.

* Support Community Trade— The Body Shop believes in buying the highest quality natural ingredients and handcrafted products, from the best people for a fair price.

* Activate Self Esteem— The Body Shop is dedicated to never selling false promises, or an unattainable ideal of beauty, and never ever playing on insecurities. Roddick’s company believes that there isn’t a single way for a human to look.

* Defend Human Rights— The Body Shop believes that they have a responsibility to ensure that wherever they trade and whomever they trade with, their relationships respect and honor human rights.

* Protect our Planet— Roddick’s business endorses the use of renewable resources and sustainable raw ingredients, supporting sustainable wood through the use of Forest Stewardship Council certified wood products. In addition, The Body Shop works to reduce waste and the unnecessary use of excess packaging in their products. In addition, Roddick has renewable energy used and for every carbon they produce, The Body Shop plants trees to absorb the carbon that they have created.