History of Successful Boycotts

Introduction

• Boycotts have been an effective tactic for campaigners to achieve various social and ethical goals.
• They have been used to address issues such as racial justice, human rights, and animal welfare.
• Companies rarely confirm if changes in practices are directly due to boycott campaigns.

Historical Boycotts

Sugar Boycott (1791)

• Promoted in England as a protest against slavery.
• Resulted in a significant drop in sales of slave-produced sugar.
• Boosted sales of sugar produced by free men, an early example of fair trade.

South Africa Apartheid Boycott (1959-1994)

• Called by South African exiles against racial segregation.
• Targeted South African products, major chains like Marks & Spencer and Next.
• Contributed to the end of apartheid.

Alabama Bus Boycott (1955)

• Sparked by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat.
• Led to a major drop in bus revenues as residents boycotted buses.

Recent Successful Boycotts

Sabra (November 2024)

• Palestinian rights campaign against Sabra over its ties to the Israeli military.
• Resulted in Strauss Group selling its stake to PepsiCo.

AXA (August 2024)

• Boycott over investments in Israeli military companies.
• AXA sold its investments as a result of the campaign.

Barclays (June 2024)

• Protest against Barclays' investment in arms for Israel.
• Led to the cancellation of Barclays' sponsorship of major music festivals.

Pret (May 2024)

• Boycott threat over planned stores in Israel.
• Pret withdrew from its agreement to open stores in Israel.

Baillie Gifford (May 2024)

• Dropped as sponsor by events over ties to Israeli settlements.
• Over 700 authors signed a statement against Baillie Gifford.

Russia (April 2024)

• Following the invasion of Ukraine, over 1,000 brands curtailed operations in Russia.

Twitter/X (January 2024)

• Campaign against harmful content under Musk's ownership.
• Loss of half advertising revenue, over 500 advertisers left.

Puma (December 2023)

• Boycott for sponsoring Israeli Football Association.
• Puma decided not to renew its sponsorship.

Klook (August 2023)

• Boycott over animal cruelty in tourism.
• Klook stopped selling tickets to wildlife attractions.

G4S (June 2023)

• Campaign against involvement in Israeli settlements and prisons.
• G4S divested from Israeli police academy shares.

House of Fraser (October 2022)

• Boycott call for selling fur.
• House of Fraser banned fur.

Pillsbury (June 2022)

• Boycott over operations in Israeli settlements.
• General Mills sold stake in related company.

Air France (June 2022)

• Campaign to stop the transport of monkeys.
• Air France banned monkey transport.

LGBT+ Safe to Be Me (April 2022)

• Boycott due to exclusion of transgender people in conversion therapy ban.
• Conference was canceled.

Swatch (December 2021)

• Boycott against Burmese gemstones.
• Swatch stopped sourcing from Burma.

Ben & Jerry's (July 2021)

• Boycott for selling in Israeli settlements.
• Announced exit from these regions.

Canada Goose (June 2021)

• Boycott over fur usage.
• Agreed to stop using fur by 2022.

News UK (April 2021)

• Boycott against divisive media channels.
• One proposed channel was canceled.

Fortnum & Mason (February 2021)

• Boycott over foie gras.
• Stopped selling foie gras.

Kirin (February 2021)

• Boycott over ties with Myanmar military.
• Cut ties with Burmese military company.

LOreal (June 2020)

• Boycott over racial equality issues.
• Model Munroe Bergdorf rehired.

Dogs4Us (April 2020)

• Campaign against puppy sales.
• Resulted in law banning puppy sales in shops.

Constellation Brands (March 2020)

• Boycott over water rights in Mexico.
• Construction permits canceled.

Dorchester Collection (May 2019)

• Boycott against Brunei's laws.
• Death penalty not imposed.

Elbit (December 2018)

• HSBC divested from Israeli arms company.

Burberry (September 2018)

• Boycott over fur usage.
• Burberry banned fur.

Merlin Entertainment (July 2018)

• Boycott over captive animals.
• Announced beluga whale sanctuary.

Trump (July 2018)

• Boycott over Trump's policies.
• Over 70 companies ended ties.

NRA (February 2018)

• Boycott after school shooting comments.
• Multiple companies cut NRA ties.

The Body Shop (January 2018)

• Boycott over animal testing links.
• Company sold and ended boycott.

Myanmar Gemstones (December 2017)

• Boycott over Burmese military funding.
• Cartier stopped sourcing from Myanmar.

Boots (November 2017)

• Boycott over high contraceptive prices.
• Prices reduced.

Seaworld (March 2016)

• Boycott over orca breeding.
• Ended orca breeding and shows.

Banks Linked to Israeli Settlements (January 2016)

• Boycott over investment in Israeli settlements.
• Banks removed from investment portfolios.

Sodastream (September 2015)

• Boycott over factory in Israeli settlements.
• Factory closed.

BDS (July 2015)

• Boycott against Israeli occupation.
• United Church of Christ endorsed divestment.

Nestle (October 2014)

• Long-standing boycott over baby milk promotion.
• Nestle made promotional changes.

Babybel (August 2012)

• Boycott over offensive marketing.
• Products withdrawn.

Ahava (January 2012)

• Boycott over operations in Israeli settlements.
• Japanese distributor stopped sales.

Johnson & Johnson (November 2011)

• Boycott over harmful chemicals.
• Phased out chemical preservatives.

Fruit of the Loom (November 2009)

• Boycott over factory closure post-unionization.
• Factory reopened and workers reinstated.

Burma Tourism (December 2005)

• Boycott against tourism funding military regime.
• Major companies ended tourism promotion.

Burma (March 2005)

• Boycott over business funding military.
• Aon Corporation withdrew from Burma.

Mitsubishi (March 2000)

• Boycott over environmentally harmful project.
• Project was canceled.

Nike (February 2001)

• Boycott over labor exploitation.
• Resulted in improved factory conditions, but wage issues persist.