Beauty brands’ support for communities in need has never been highlighted more than following this year’s earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand and the Queensland floods. While this community spirit is always applauded, it’s also worth taking a look at those beauty brands that give continuous aid to communities across the globe. From donating products and funding to personally lending their muscle, these beauty companies are doing their bit to make the world a better place.
The Body Shop
has been running its Community Trade programme since 1987, which sees it buying a range of ingredients, gifts and accessories from marginalised communities across the globe. Through their programme, The Body Shop aims to achieve the goal of fair trade for work in fair conditions. The programme directly benefits over 25,000 people, with their commitment continuing to grow. Over 65 per cent of The Body Shop products now include ingredients sourced through the Community Trade programme. Another way The Body Shop is helping out is through the donation of proceeds from the sale of in-store products. They are currently giving all the proceeds from the sale of the Tri Massager to the Children On the Edge East Timor Programme that creates play space for children affected by post war trauma.
L’OCCITANE
A commitment to the values of authenticity, respect and solidarity saw create the corporate L’OCCITANE Foundation in 2006. L’OCCITANE donates nearly 37 per cent of its annual budget to the economic emancipation of women in Burkina Faso. The brand has worked closely with the Burkina Faso women of Africa under fair trade and Ecocert terms to source their shea butter for over 25 years. It has set up literacy centres and finance professional training programs in the area. The brand has also been supporting the Orbis project for 10 years, which fights against avoidable blindness in developing countries.
Burt’s Bees
Burt's Bees is not afraid to get a bit dirty when it comes to giving a helping hand. The brand has partnered with Habitat for Humanity for the last two years, a charity that helps low and moderate income families own their own home through a subsidised purchasing program. With volunteers and partnering organisations called on to donate muscle power and time to help this charity, the Burt’s Bees team were directly involved in building new homes. They have also donated product and financial support.
Great Lengths Australia
A pre-school in India’s urban slums is up and running thanks to Great Lengths Australia. The brand’s sponsorship of the Anganwadi Project saw Great Lengths Australia cover the cost of materials, labour and construction of the pre-school which opened in April. The funding also covers the cost of rent and staff salaries and provides the 45 children with nutritious meals, health services and a year of value-based education.
Happy Skincare
It may have only been around since December last year, but that hasn’t stopped Happy Skincare diving straight into helping out those less fortunate. The brand donates 10 per cent of all profits from its Anti-ageing and Repair Cream to the struggling Mexican orphanage Casa Hogar el Nino Feliz. The brand’s donations help provide the orphanage with money to buy food and other essential supplies.
Synthesis 345 Organics
Synthesis 345 Organics has teamed up with a certified Fair Trade organisation to create gift packaging. Work created by the packaging helps support the creative and economic independence of artisan communities in India and Asia. The Prokritee fair trade organisation in Bangladesh handcrafted the brand’s First Love gift box while artisans from the non-profit and non-government Bangladesh social development organisation, Shohojogita, handcrafted their travel bags.
Lush
Not ones to shy away from helping a good cause, donates 100 per cent of the proceeds (minus the taxes) from the sale of its Charity Pot to small grassroots organisations in need of a helping hand including the Music Outback Foundation and the Australian Goodwill Bicycles Abroad. Music Outback Foundation is a non-profit charity that sees music and art forms as a means of improving outcomes for remote indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. Australian Goodwill Bicycles Abroad collects, repairs and donates unwanted bicycles to disadvantaged people worldwide and remote Australian indigenous communities to provide sustainable transportation opportunities.
DeLorenzo
De Lorenzo believes charity begins at home. Their Prescriptive Solutions and Elements ranges contain certified organic ingredients sourced via Outback Spirit. Outback Spirit is a fair trade organisation that supports outback indigenous communities who grow ingredients in a sustainable way.
Aveda
The chilling fact that every 21 seconds a child dies from a lack of access to clean water led to initiating its Be A Water Warrior crusade which supports clean water projects both in Australia and around the world. The brand raises money for the cause through their annual Walk for Water, donating 100 per cent of proceeds from the sale of their limited-edition Light the Way Candle and donations from some of their appointment proceeds.
emerginC
A long time supporter of Operation Smile, emerginC donates 10 per cent of the sale of its Triple Threat Peel to the organisation. Operation Smile provides free surgeries to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities for disadvantaged children around the globe.
Living Nature
Living Nature works closely with the local Iwi tribe in sourcing their hero native botanical ingredients. The company complies with rituals important to the indigenous Maori, who worship nature and the sacredness of plants.
