Beyond the bubbles: how Lush does sustainability right!
I don’t know about you, but to me, Lush Cosmetics is the original IT girl of sustainable self-care.
From reduced packaging, being cruelty free, to eco-friendly manufacturing processes, Lush aims to have minimal negative impacts on people, animals and the planet.
Did you know Lush invented the first ever shampoo bar? A staple lots of big beauty brands have since replicated in a bid to reduce single-use plastic beauty products.
Lush also runs campaigns and engages in advocacy and activism for environmental, ethical, and social issues, such as packaging waste and animal rights.
You can View Lush’s environmental policy to find out more about what it's doing to reduce its environmental impact and ensure transparency for consumers.
Now, let’s dive behind the bubbles and explore three ways Lush does sustainability right:
Fighting against plastic waste
If you’ve ever set foot into a Lush store (and if you haven’t, I would definitely recommend) you are immediately overwhelmed by the amazing smells and colourful sights of whimsically shaped bath bombs, perfectly stacked and displayed throughout the store.
As you browse around, picking up bubble bars shaped like kittens and bath bombs that smell like sugar, spice and everything nice, you might not pay much attention to the fact most of the products are ‘naked’, or not contained in any packaging.
These ‘naked’ products are this way for a good reason, to reduce the need for single-use plastic, which is detrimental to the environment. There are recyclable paper bags and reusable scraps of cloth available throughout the store for you to wrap your goodies in to take home.
Not only does this reduce packaging waste, but it also allows you to fully immerse yourself in the retail experience, being able to pick up and smell items, and appreciate the craftsmanship that has been put into hand-making them.
Promoting transparency
All of Lush’s products are hand-made in factories controlled by Lush. For transparency, Lush’s cosmetics come with a sticker that has the name and image of the person who made the product, which is a nice touch that allows you to see and relate to the worker who has hand-craft your items.
By doing this, Lush connects the consumer to the person who has made their product. This builds trust and encourages consumers, like you and I, to become more aware of the social impact of our purchases, instilling a sense of responsibility and accountability when making future purchasing decisions.
Since shopping at Lush, I have started considering the conditions in which the products I buy have been made and by whom, opting for brands that are transparent about their manufacturing and labour processes.
Championing cruelty-free
From its beginnings, Lush has had a strong commitment to cruelty-free practices and was a pioneer in the use of vegetarian and vegan ingredients. By not testing products on animals, Lush reflects its commitment to ethical practices and respecting the rights and well-being of living creatures.
The company has a strict policy against testing products on animals and doesn't use animal testing or involve third parties to test their ingredients or finished products. They also refuse to buy raw materials from suppliers who test on animals.
Further to this, Lush is dedicated to promoting awareness about animal welfare issues. Bags available from the store come with messaging surrounding fighting animal testing, which contributes to raising awareness of the issue.
From reducing packaging waste, to enabling a transparent and cruelty-free culture, Lush sets a precedent for sustainable practices within the beauty industry.
Now, I am off to run myself a bath and use my favourite Lush products…
