Bondi Sands

OVERALL
Owned	JPN
Rating

DIY tanning

Australia and New Zealand's largest self-tanning brand, with sales also in UK, USA & Europe. Australian owned and made. Acquired by Kao in 2023 for $450 million.

Company Ownership


Bondi Sands Pty Ltd	AUS	website	email	facebook	twitter
Kao Brands Australia Pty Ltd owns 100% of Bondi Sands Pty Ltd	AUS	website	email
Personal care and cleaning products
Kao Brands Company owns 100% of Kao Brands Australia Pty Ltd	USA	website
Personal care products
» Kao Corporation owns 100% of Kao Brands Company	JPN	website
Consumer product manufacturer Japan's #1 maker of personal care, laundry, and cleaning products.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE

CRITICISM

INFORMATION

Bondi Sands Pty Ltd

Cruelty free company

This company has either signed PETA's statement of assurance or provided a statement verifying that they do not conduct or commission any animal tests.
Source: PETA (2023)

Lawsuit for greenwashing

This company is set to face class action lawsuit alleging that its sunscreens are not environmentally friendly. The sun care brand is charged with falsely marketing its products to US consumers as reef-safe despite the fact that they contain several ingredients that could potentially endanger marine life, including avobenzone, homosalate. octisalate and octocrylene.
Source: Global Cosmetics News (2022)

Sustainability claims

This company has sustainability claims on its website in the areas of packaging, reef friendly sunscreens, reducing carbon footprint and community support.
Source: company website (2021)

Kao Brands Australia Pty Ltd

Breaching advertising codes

In 2010 the Therapeutic Goods Administration's Complaints Resolution Panel upheld a complaint about an ad by this company on the grounds that it breached advertising codes. The ad was subsequently withdrawn.
Source: TGA Complaints Register (2010)

APCO member

Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice). This company received a packaging performance level of 2 (Good Progress) in its 2023 APCO Annual Report.
Source: APCO (2023)

Kao Brands Company

Animal Testing

This company appears on PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, USA) 'Companies That Do Test On Animals' list, signifying that they either test on animals or pay a laboratory to conduct tests on animals.
Source: PETA (2022)

Sustainability Consortium member

This company is a member of The Sustainability Consortium, an organization of diverse global participants that work collaboratively to build a scientific foundation that drives innovation to improve consumer product sustainability. They develop transparent methodologies, tools, and strategies to drive a new generation of products and supply networks that address environmental, social, and economic imperatives.
Source: Sustainability Consortium (2019)

GC3 member (Green Chemistry)

This company is a member of the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3), a business-to-business forum that advances the application of green chemistry and design for environment across supply chains. It provides an open forum for cross-sectoral collaboration to share information and experiences about the challenges to and opportunities for safer chemicals and products.
Source: GC3 (2019)

How2Recycle member

This company is a member of How2Recycle. The How2Recycle Label is a voluntary, standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. It involves a coalition of forward thinking brands who want their packaging to be recycled and are empowering consumers through smart packaging labels. Companies must be a member of the program to use the How2Recycle Label.
Source: How2Recycle (2023)

Kao Corporation

CDP Forests Score of A

In 2022, 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 A.
Source: CDP (2022)

CDP Climate Change Score of A

In 2022, 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 A.
Source: CDP (2022)

CDP Water Security Score of A

In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security Score of A.
Source: CDP (2022)

79/100 S&P Global ESG Score

This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 79/100 in the Personal Products category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 23 Sep 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)

Unsustainable palm oil use

This company scores Ethical Consumer's worst rating for their use of palm oil, signifying they are using no or minimal certified palm products, and with no or minimal positive commitments.
Source: Ethical Consumer (2022)

D grade in Keep Forests Standing report

Rainforest Action Network's 2022 report and scorecard "Keep Forests Standing" assessed 17 brands and banks on their efforts to address their contribution to the destruction of forests, ongoing land grabs, and violence against local and Indigenous communities. This company received a 'D' grade in the evaluation.
Source: RAN (2022)

Water Pollution in China

In 2006 Kao subsidiary Kao Chemical Corporation Shanghai was blacklisted by various levels of Chinese government for releasing wastewater not sufficiently treated. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: news article (2006)

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)

Animal testing

In 2009 Naturewatch reported that Kao Corporation was still investing in new methods of testing on animals. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: Naturewatch (2009)

11.2% in Newsweek Green Rankings 2016

This company received a score of 11.2/100 in the Newsweek Green Rankings 2016, 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 (2016)

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)

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; responsible corporate engagement in climate policy; commit to 100% renewable power.
Source: We Mean Business (2021)

Gender equality

This company appears on the 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, signifying a commitment to supporting gender equality through policy development, representation, and transparency.
Source: Bloomberg (2021)

Sustainability claims

This company has a number of sustainability claims on its website including various policy statements.
Source: company website (2016)

Sedex member

This company is a member of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), a not-for-profit, membership organisation that leads work with buyers and suppliers to deliver improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains. Tens of thousands of companies use Sedex to manage their performance around labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics.
Source: Sedex (2018)

UN Global Compact participant

The United Nations Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of 10 values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. However it's non-binding nature has been widely criticised, and many signatory corporations continue to violate the Compact's values.
Source: UN Global Compact (2020)

Supply chain practices in China

This company received a score of 45.5/100 (retrieved 10-Oct-2020) in the Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI), a system for evaluating supply chain practices in China, particularly in regards to environmental management and water pollution. Scores are calculated using government compliance data, online monitoring data, and third-party environmental audits, as well as trends in the environmental performance of factories in the company's supply chains.
Source: IPE (2020)

49% 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 49%.
Source: Forest 500 (2022)

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 (2016)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type	Private company
Founded	2012
Revenue	65 million AUD (2020)
Aus Manufacturing	Yes

Contact Details

Address	Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Email	info@bondisands.com.au
Website	bondisands.com.au

Products / Brands

Bondi Sands

Bondi Sands Tanning Lotions
Bondi Sands Sunscreen

Bondi Sands

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