Archived press release

Uk cosmetics industry risks tiger forests

22 June 2003

Talc mined illegally in a protected forest that is home to endangered tigers has been supplied to international cosmetics manufacturers, including UK/Dutch multinational Unilever, an investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Friends of the Earth, published in today's Observer newspaper, has revealed.

Indian mining company, the Golcha Group is illegally quarrying for soapstone in the Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan, India. Soapstone is used for cosmetics, detergents and skincare products, and the illegally mined talc could be finding its way in to UK products such as Dove, Lux and Omo. The wildlife sanctuary is an important tiger habitat, and mining could also be having a damaging impact on water levels in the area. Under Indian law no mining should occur inside or within 10km of the protected area.

The Golcha Group also claim to supply talc to Johnson & Johnson, Revlon and Avon.

Friends of the Earth (FoE) and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) today called for a commitment from the UK and Indian Governments to ensure that national legislation in India to protect these critical areas is not violated for the sake of corporate interests.

Head of EIA's Tiger Campaign Debbie Banks stated:

"Rampant habitat destruction by greedy companies is a major threat to the survival of wild tigers. In India, where one tiger is lost from the population every day, every tiger counts, every patch of forest counts."

Debbie Banks continued: "With India's economy opening further to international investments and international markets, the Government is gambling with the people's natural heritage," said Ms Banks.

Friends of the Earth Corporates Campaigner Matt Phillips said:

"Big business must not be allowed to get away with destroying a protected tiger habitat for profits. We need robust rules to make sure multinationals are properly held to account."

"This is a clear example of why the Government needs to place duties on directors to minimize the socially and environmentally damaging impacts of their business activities. The forthcoming Company Law Bill provides a unique opportunity for strong and effective laws. These laws must ensure that UK registered multinationals, like Unilever, have high social and environmental standards regarding their suppliers and operations wherever in the world they operate."

Notes

A full briefing is available from Friends of the Earth and EIA - and at www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/corporates/ Photographs and moving footage are available on request.

UK Cosmetics Industry Risks Tiger Forests (PDF†)

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust