A truth bubble would have stopped the deception cold. Roddick fabricated stories about how she started the Body Shop and sourced ingredients from bare-breasted natives. Over the years, as white lies about the company's progressive practices grew darker, the Roddicks defended their myth-making with vitriolic personal attacks and legal threats. In light of the facts, the honesty gap is startling. In the capitalist world of caveat emptor, honest information is our only defense.
Social vision means nothing unless companies tell the truth.
Even today, the movement is reluctant to acknowledge its own culpability. The atmosphere at a mid-October meeting of progressive business leaders could be likened to a family gathering a few days after everyone's favorite uncle was found molesting a neighbor's child. The scandal was on everyone's mind, few would openly talk about it, and most hoped that by ignoring it, the story would soon fade away. Socially responsible business is not about having a good heart or striving for perfection. It's about recognizing the original sin of capitalism, preaching only what is practiced, and turning out a fair-priced, quality product.