Dame Anita Roddick, environmental campaigner and ethical beauty pioneer, died suddenly yesterday following a brain haemorrhage.
Known as the “Queen of Green”, Roddick used her Body Shop store to encourage eco friendly awareness long before it became the norm and was lauded for her dynamic business practices that promoted fair trade, natural ingredients and stood against animal testing.
She attempted to support third world development by using skilled local people to craft the brand's creams and lotions and by purchasing materials directly from small communities in poorer countries.
The company grew into a global phenomenon with nearly 2,000 stores in 50 countries before it was bought by L'Oréal in 2006. The move was shrouded with controversy, with some animal rights activists stating that Roddick had sold out by joining forces with L'Oréal, a company that still used animal testing on its products.
A self-proclaimed beauty industry hater, Roddick worked tirelessly to support free trade and human rights. In 1994 The Body Shop launched the first STOP Violence Against Women campaign, which followed with the 'Help Take the Heat Off' programme, an environment campaign to raise awareness about climate change, in 1997.
Roddick had only recently revealed a long term battle with Hepatitis C, which was contracted following a transfusion of infected blood during the birth of her youngest daughter in 1971. She had suffered from liver damage since contracting the disease 35 years ago.