Band-Aid is joining the scores of corporations making changes in support of the Black Lives Matter movement following the nationwide protests against systemic racism and the death of George Floyd.
The company announced a new line of bandages on June 10 that will come in a range of skin tones from beige to dark brown, to “embrace the beauty of diverse skin” (via theNew York Post).
Up until now, standard Band-Aid bandages have come in only beige, sheer (beige), and clear varieties, though even the clear bandages that are meant to be invisible have a spot of beige in the center, over the “comfort pad” (viaBand-Aid).
While many have praised Band-Aid for the positive change, others are critical of the timing, claiming that consumers have been requesting a diverse range of bandages for years to no effect (viaKron4) but the recent call for social change may not be their sole motivation.
Band-Aid says it stands in solidarity with the Black community
While Band-Aid’s new launch may seem to be entirely prompted by the recent protests, it may also be in response to competition.
Tru Colour bandages, which offer a range of skin tone options for a very competitive price, are available at Target, Meijer, and on Amazon, and have been since 2018 (viaTru Colour).
Whether or not this new brand had an influence, it’s clear Band-Aid is trying to keep up with what consumers want.
Whether this is too little too late, it is definitely a step in the right direction for Band-Aid, and hopefully many more companies will follow suit.
