Fairtrade cosmetics to enter bathrooms

AFP, May, 2007

PARIS (AFP) — Fairtrade cosmetics including sugar crystal scrubs and chocolate face masks are expanding and are set to appear more often on supermarket shelves and in consumers' bathrooms, industry experts believe.

"After foodstuffs and textiles two years ago, beauty products labelled as Fairtrade really took off six months ago," said Victor Ferreira, the director of Max Havelaar, a Swiss fair trade labelling company.

Corinne Paulet, the co-founder of French brand Themis, said on the margins of a fair trade show in Paris that runs to May 13 that an increasing number of players in the market would mean Fairtrade cosmetics will appeal to a wider public.

Retailers around the world are increasingly responding to consumers' demand for products, including tea,...