Beauty products importer
Avon closed down its Australian operations in 2018.
Company Ownership
Avon Products Pty Ltd
AUS
Avon Products Inc
owns 100% of Avon Products Pty Ltd
UK
Beauty products
The world's largest direct seller of cosmetics and beauty-related items. In 2016 Avon spun off its North American unit to create New Avon, which was bought by LG in 2019 and renamed The Avon Company in 2021. Natura & Co acquired the global Avon business in 2019. In recent years it has started opening its first brick-and-mortar stores in Turkey, the UK, Brazil, and South Africa.
Natura & Co SA
owns 100% of Avon Products Inc
BRA
Personal care products
Cosmetics group comprising Natura Cosmetico and Avon. Natura acquired Aesop in 2013, The Body Shop from L'Oreal in 2017, and Avon in 2019. In 2023 Natura sold Aesop to L'Oreal and The Body Shop to Aurelius.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Aug 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Avon Products Pty Ltd
No assessment data currently available for Avon Products Pty Ltd.
Avon Products Inc
Praise
Criticism
Information
Cruelty-free accredited company
This company's products are guaranteed 'cruelty free' and carry the Leaping Bunny logo.
Supply chain practices in China
The Green Supply Chain Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI) evaluates consumer-facing companies that have a sizeable supply chain in China. The evaluation uses government supervision data and public information to assess the environmental management of their supply chains in China. This company received a score of 9.44/100 (retrieved 24 Nov 2023).
Source: IPE
(2023)
Fines over talc dangers
In August 2024 this company announced it would file for bankruptcy in face of 200 lawsuits linking its talc products to cancer. Avon uses talc, a mineral that has been linked to cancer, in face powders and eye shadows. Avon paid US$50 million to an Arizona woman in 2022, and US$24.4 million Chicago-area man in 2024, after they were diagnosed with cancer.
Source: NY Post
(2024)
Palm oil sourcing
A 2022 BBC News, Mongabay and the Gecko Project released a joint investigation that looked into a scheme that was intended to help lift millions of Indonesians out of poverty and cut them in on the spoils of the global palm oil boom, but has instead been plagued by allegations of exploitation and illegality. They identified 13 companies, including this one, that have sourced palm oil from producers alleged to have withheld plasma (a portion of large-scale plantations to be shared with local communities), or the profits from plasma, from Indonesian communities over the past eight years. The losses suffered across Indonesia by communities owed plasma could stretch into the hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Protests by local tribes over plasma are violently suppressed by Indonesian authorities.
Source: Mongabay
(2022)
CDP Climate Change Score of D
In 2020, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of D.
Source: CDP
(2020)
CDP Forests Score of D
In 2019, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of D.
Source: CDP
(2019)
Use of microplastics
This company uses plastic microbeads in some of its personal care products. These particles are not retained by wastewater treatment so end up in the ocean where they contribute to ocean plastic pollution, and are hazardous to sea life. While the effects of microplastics on human health are not completely understood, there are concerns about plastic additives, such as phthalates, which are known endocrine disruptors which are shown to have harmful effects on life.
Source: Beat the Microbead
(2021)
Foreign Corrupt Practices violations
This company has paid multiple fines for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). In 2014 Avon China paid US$135 million to the US Dept of Justice and the SEC in relation to a bribery scheme. In 2015 Avon Products paid US$62 million to settle claims that it falsely inflated stock prices by hiding FCPA violations. In 2016 the company paid US$6.25 million to settle a proposed class action when its employees accused it of mismanaging pension funds during a FCPA investigation.
Source: Top Class Actions
(2017)
30.7% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 30.7/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek
(2017)
Microbeads scorecard
In 2016 Greenpeace East Asia ranked the world's 30 biggest personal care companies on their commitment to eliminating microbeads from their personal care products. The scorecard was based on four main criteria: commitment & transparency, definition, deadline and global application. This company ranked joint second. Microbeads are not retained by wastewater treatment and end up in the ocean where they are a threat to the marine environment.
Source: Greenpeace
(2016)
Responsibility claims
This company has responsibility claims on its website in the areas of reducing environmental impact, operating responsibly, standing against animal testing, and supporting women.
Source: company website
(2021)
GFTN participant
This company is a participant in WWF's Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN), which seeks to mainstream the principles of responsible forest management and sustainable trade throughout the global forest products industry, by providing technical assistance and fostering linkages between committed companies. Independent forest certification is a key tool in this process.
Source: WWF
(2019)
Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: company website
(2021)
Skin Deep hazard scores
Skin Deep is an online safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products and their potential hazards and health concerns, with over 75,000 products rated from 1 (low hazard) to 10 (high hazard).
Natura & Co SA
Praise
Criticism
Information
Certified B Corporation
Certified B Corporations use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Corps meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards; meet higher legal accountability standards; and build business constituency for good business.
Source: B Corporation
(2021)
Palm oil rating - WAZA
The PalmOil Scan app, produced by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), rates companies on their commitment to sourcing sustainable palm oil. Companies are scored on their use of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO), commitment to sourcing CSPO, on-the-ground conservation action, and membership to the RSPO. Companies can earn a rating of Excellent, Good, Poor or No Commitment. This company is rated "Good" (retrieved 18 Nov 2023).
Source: WAZA
(2023)
72/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 72/100 in the Personal Products category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 21 Oct 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global
(2022)
Supply chain practices in China
The Green Supply Chain Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI) evaluates consumer-facing companies that have a sizeable supply chain in China. The evaluation uses government supervision data and public information to assess the environmental management of their supply chains in China. This company received a score of 15.14/100 (retrieved 24 Nov 2023).
Source: IPE
(2023)
34.6% in Forest 500 Rankings
Forest 500 identifies the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions with the greatest exposure to tropical deforestation risk, and annually assesses them on the strength and implementation of their deforestation and human rights commitments. This company received a score of 34.6%.
Source: Forest 500
(2023)
7.5/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2024 and received a score of 7.5/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target; put a price on carbon; responsible corporate engagement in climate policy; report climate change information in mainstream reports as a fiduciary duty.
Source: We Mean Business
(2021)
Plastics Commitment signatory
This company is a signatory to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, whose goal is to eliminate plastic pollution at its source.
Source: New Plastics Economy
(2022)
Responsible Mica Initiative member
This company is a member of the Responsible Mica Initiative, a Do-Tank which aims to eradicate child labour and unacceptable working conditions in the Indian mica supply chain by joining forces across industries.
C grade in Plastic Promises Scorecard
As You Sow's 2024 Plastic Promises Scorecard measures the corporate ambition and action of 225 large companies across six industries on six core pillars of plastic packaging pollution prevention: 1) Recyclability, 2) Reduction, 3) Recycled Content, 4) Recovery, 5) Reuse, and 6) Producer Responsibility. This company received a grade of C.
Source: As You Sow
(2024)
23.3% in Nature Benchmark
The Nature Benchmark ranks 816 companies across 20 industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. Companies were assessed in three phases between 2022 and 2024 using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company was assessed in 2024 and is ranked #181/816, with a total score of 23.3/100.
Company Details
Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Contact Details
Address:
120 Old Pittwater Rd, Brookvale, NSW, 2100, Australia
Phone:
02 9936 7777
Website: