The Body Shop India Turns 19: A Celebration of Legacy, Impact and Collective Action
Mumbai, 10th June 2025: As The Body Shop celebrates 19 years in India, it reinforces its commitment to putting more love for the people, the planet, and communities at the centre of its operations. Since 2006, the iconic British-born ethical beauty brand has championed purpose-led actionism, cleaner beauty, and social inclusion, proving that ethical beauty can change lives, not just routines. This year, The Body Shop championed several initiatives, creating a positive social and environmental impact, including donating 19 electric-tricycles to waste collectors in the effort to transform lives for better through mobility, dignity, and opportunity.
As part of its flagship Festive’24 campaign, Spark A Change 2.0 – The Body Shop, in partnership with Plastics For Change (PFC), continues to drive meaningful impact through its bold actionism agenda. Marking five years of collaboration, this initiative has already diverted 2,330+ metric tons of plastic waste, prevented over 4.4 million kg of CO₂ emissions, and empowered 2,000+ waste collectors with dignified livelihoods.
The donation drive, backed by customer contributions across India, concluded on 31st March 2025. The funds raised is equivalent to 19 electric tricycles—game-changing vehicles that help waste collectors cover longer routes, transport heavier loads, and significantly increase their monthly income.
Shriti Malhotra, Executive Chairperson, Quest Retail, The Body Shop India said, “As we celebrate 19 years of The Body Shop in India, we are proud of the journey we’ve taken — championing ethical beauty, community trade, and purpose-led actionism. From our pioneering campaigns to grassroots impact, our mission has always been to drive positive change. The collaboration with CFT partners, such as Plastics for Change is a powerful reflection of how legacy brands, such as ours, have the ability to empower waste collectors, tackling plastic pollution, and uplifting communities. This milestone is not just a celebration of the past, but a renewed commitment to creating a more sustainable and inclusive future for all.”
Feeling gratitude, Andrew Almack, Founder & CEO, Plastics for Change, commented “We’re grateful to The Body Shop for the contribution. With these funds, we’re financing 19 E-tricycles for informal waste workers – boosting their income and using plastic waste as a resource for creating better, more sustainable livelihoods.
Our partnership with The Body Shop has been a game-changer for both environmental sustainability and social impact. By creating a fair-trade market for recycled plastic, we have reduced plastic pollution and improved the lives of thousands of waste collectors. This collaboration is proof that purpose-driven business models can address complex global challenges while empowering marginalized communities.””
The Body Shop India’s commitment to inclusion and empowerment is also guided by over 50 community programs so far, for instance, Youth Collective Council (YCC), which has been formed in 2023 with the objective of amplifying greater representation and diversity of young voices in corporate decision-making. From introducing Braille signage in the stores, to championing gender-sensitive training for staff, and prioritising inclusive hiring practices to ensuring every customer feels seen and valued, are some of the strategic directions implemented by The Body Shop through YCC 1.0. Through its Return, Recycle, Repeat (RRR) program, The Body Shop encourages customers to participate in circularity by returning empties for recycling, further reducing environmental impact.
Rahul Shankar, CEO of Quest Retail, The Body Shop India, added, “As we stand on the threshold of our 20th year in India, we are committed to bringing ethical, sustainable beauty to every doorstep while nurturing local innovation and expanding our reach in ways that touch lives and inspire action. Together, we will continue to turn hope into action and purpose into progress for generations to come. We are recalibrating our value and volume equation in India. We aim to double our India business in the next three years, while staying true to our values of sustainability and ethical beauty.”
With a focus on local manufacturing, community partnerships, and ongoing expansion, the brand is dedicated to reaching even more communities across India, with a robust omnichannel presence spanning over 200 touch points and 1,500 cities, and a serviceable reach to more than 15,000 pin codes, proving that beauty can be a force for good, everywhere and for everyone.