Young People Can Be Seen and Be Heard with The Body Shop

Popular skincare brand The Body Shop is helping young people get involved with advocacy initiatives that matter to them. Founded in 1976, The Body Shop started because it believed that business could be a force for good. The company committed to its mission of selling ethically sourced, cruelty-free beauty products and has been a force for positive change in the cosmetic world ever since. One of the company’s major efforts outside of its products is the “Be Seen Be Heard” campaign. The campaign was a massive move for the business’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. 

The Be Seen Be Heard campaign is a partnership between The Body Shop and the United Nations Human Rights Office. Together, they aim to advocate for “a future that recognizes young people’s political participation as a driving force for positive change.” Since its launch in 2022, both organizations have been dedicated to ensuring that young voices are heard and valued in the political process. 

As part of the campaign, the Be Seen Be Heard report was released. The report includes findings from The Body Shop’s largest-ever survey, which was carried out in December 2021. The survey covered 26 countries and had 27,043 respondents, over half of whom were under age 30. The report highlights both formal and informal engagement in political participation as beneficial for a resilient democracy, emphasizing ways to encourage both. At its core, Be See Be Heard and the collaborative report released with the United Nations is a call to action for governments, institutions, and communities to listen to the next generation.

The Body Shop’s campaign is critical right now. With the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health crises, and worsening climate change, young people are facing a tumultuous world. Many are passionate about these issues and further political advocacy, but they remain largely excluded from the political decision-making process. Be Seen Be Heard is dedicated to bridging this gap and ensuring that young people have the ability to make the change they seek. 

The Body Shop has become more than a cosmetic marketplace. The business has turned its storefronts into more than retail spaces through its CSR efforts. They have become large hubs for encouraging activism and political participation. The company has hosted a variety of events, from hosting youth consultations to making advocacy toolkits. Additionally, The Body Shop has partnered with grassroots organizations, the United Nations, and policymakers to assist with their initiatives. One of their biggest goals is to lower the UK voting age to 16. They have partnered with the British Youth Council to campaign for this goal, arguing that young people are integral to the political system and are affected by many of the decisions being made in the government.

To be part of the change, you can visit TheBodyShop.com. There you can find more information regarding their cruelty-free mission and products, and their dedication to political advocacy for young people. Be Seen Be Heard is a great example of a CSR initiative striving to help young people make change.