LUSH unveils certified-recycled Prevented Ocean Plastic bottles

LUSH, a leading cosmetics retailer, has partnered with Prevented Ocean Plastic for sustainable packaging solutions.

With a longstanding commitment to sustainability, LUSH has consistently sought ways to minimise its environmental footprint and drive positive change through its purchasing decisions. While already utilising 100% recycled PET for its clear bottles over the past decade, LUSH continues to push the boundaries of packaging innovation. Now, Prevented Ocean Plastic joins forces with LUSH to propel this mission forward.

LUSH is introducing Prevented Ocean Plastic across its global operations. In the UK, in collaboration with supplier Spectra Packaging, LUSH has embraced certified recycled Prevented Ocean Plastic for its 100ml, 250ml, and 500ml bottles. Manufacturing sites in Germany and Croatia have similarly adopted Prevented Ocean Plastic for these sizes, with plans for rollout in LUSH North America and Japan later this year. While the transition of LUSH's 1-litre bottles across all markets is ongoing, they are slated for introduction later in the year.

Jonathan Powell, Sales Director, Spectra Packaging, said: The opportunity to work with a forward-thinking partner like Lush illustrates a common desire to align our visions to drive positive change. By working together towards these common goals, partnerships such as ours can make a positive impact.

The plastic used in the production of Lush's new clear bottles has been sourced from locations within 50km of oceans, coastlines, or major waterways in Indonesia. This plastic, if left uncollected, would have posed a risk of entering and polluting the oceans. Collected plastic is taken to designated collection centres before being processed by recyclers. Subsequently, the recycled material is distributed to packaging manufacturers, including Lush, and other retail partners for branding and use.

Prevented Ocean Plastic operates in Indonesia and worldwide, promoting waste management infrastructure and providing employment opportunities while preventing plastic pollution.

Raffi Schieir, Director of Prevented Ocean Plastic™, said: It is our honour to partner with Lush and their commitment to leave the world lusher. By making better plastic choices, Lush are supporting the essential workers of the informal waste sector, preventing thousands of plastic bottles from reaching the ocean, and giving a new life to previously discarded material. Together we can ensure every bottle is counted and every person counts.

LUSH's adoption of Prevented Ocean Plastic underscores its commitment to environmental responsibility.

Karolina Michalska, Creative Buying, Lush, added: Seeing how much impact the Prevented Ocean Plastic™ Programme has had on communities in areas at high risk of plastic pollution, being part of preventing tonnes of plastic from entering the oceans, as well as improving transparency of the supply chain is very much fulfilling our ‘Lusher than we found it’ statement. I feel honoured to have worked with such a passionate and inspirational group of people who care about people and the environment.