ABSTRACT
There are few elements of the green consumer agenda with which The Body Shop has not been involved on an international scale, whether environmental, social or animal welfare-related. The Body Shop believes that the scope for voluntary environmental labelling to promote significant environmental benefits is limited. The Body Shop would advocate completely downgrading the public policy importance of voluntary, generic labelling initiatives. There have been some successes, for example in organic labelling, where there is a very active producer movement and a direct link to consumer human health and well-being. Good initiatives like Forest Stewardship Council and organic certification would fit well within such a scheme. The more general conclusion that we would draw is that, with a few honourable exceptions, voluntary labels are at best much ado about nothing, at worst a misleading and potentially highly confusing market intervention.
