- LUSH Cosmetics Founder Challenges Financial Groups To Protect Green Entrepreneurs -

Corporate takeovers of small green businesses are happening at such an alarming rate that independent ethical businesses are becoming a rarity. This recent phenomenon is particularly rife in the beauty world; the November buyout of natural brand Burt’s Bees by Clorox, Estee Lauder’s take over of Aveda, and most shockingly of all, the L’Oreal (part-owned by Nestle) acquisition of The Body Shop has left LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics the last big, independent green beauty company standing. Despite many offers, the hip cosmetics company stands firm on its policies, creative control, and environmentally friendly reputation and is not willing to compromise that for any amount of money.

Being an ethical entrepreneur in the United States isn’t easy. Lush founder Mark Constantine feels that financial institutions need to step up to the plate to protect the integrity of green brands looking to grow. “Green businesses looking to expand need investment capitol, and the biggest challenge is securing that capitol in a way that won’t leave them open to a buyout by an unethical multinational,” he says.

The beauty industry is not alone. In the last few years, other socially-conscious businesses such as the self-styled hippie ice-cream makers Ben and Jerry’s have been sold to Unilever, the Fairly Traded organic Green and Black’s chocolate is now owned by Cadbury’s and the sustainable farming organic Seeds of Change was bought by Mars. This increasing trend for large corporations to occupy successful ethical companies continues to rock the US business world, and gives rise to debate how well compassionate shoppers are responding to these takeovers. A recent informal survey done on treehugger.com found that 48%* of customers would abandon an ethical brand if they were bought out by a multinational.

LUSH stands true to its belief that products should be effective, fun and safe for you to use. As a self-proclaimed “cosmetic deli” of bath and body products, LUSH handmake their products using the freshest ingredients and finest essential oils, with minimal use of synthetics and preservatives. “We founded LUSH on the principle of making products that are fresh and natural, with minimal or no packaging and no animal testing,” says Constantine.

At LUSH, it’s the responsibility of their Creative Buying team to travel to countries including Ghana, Sumatra and Papau New Guinea in search of the very best, ethically sourced and sustainable ingredients they can find. They also adhere to a strict no animal testing policy by operating their own Supplier Specific Boycott Policy. LUSH’s unique ethical stance has certainly contributed to its rapid growth. Since LUSH first opened its doors in the UK in 1995 and from its first store opening in Vancouver, BC in April 1996, the global brand can now be found in 510 locations worldwide, and recently celebrated the opening of its 57th store in the United States.

Editors notes:

*Source: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/survey_do_you_b_1.php

100% of products are vegetarian – LUSH believes in making effective products out of fresh organic fruit and vegetables, the finest essential oils and safe synthetics. There is absolutely no animal fat or bi-product in LUSH’s creations.

74% of products are vegan – LUSH clearly labels their vegan products with a green “V.” This allows customers to easily decipher the products without ingredients like honey, lanolin, yogurt and eggs.

65% of products are preservative-free –LUSH’s intent when making products is to eliminate the use of synthetics and preservatives. In the event that they can’t do this, LUSH introduces safe preservatives and synthetics and uses minimum amount necessary such as polyparaben and methylparben. This means the products are better for the customer and the environment.

58% of products are free of wasteful packaging – In LUSH speak, these include the brand’s “naked” or solid products that contain no wasteful packaging, such as soap, bubble bar slices, shampoo bars, massage bars, shower jellies, body butters, and facial cleansers. Consider this…if 57 million people used LUSH’s solid shampoo bars, then the waste of 22 million bottles would be prevented and 6 million metric tons of preserved shampoo would be saved from entering the environment.

No animal testing policy on products or ingredients – LUSH’s founder, Mark Constantine, has been a leading figure in the beauty without cruelty campaign - he pioneered this crusade back in the 80's and the LUSH team continues its support by not testing on animals themselves. LUSH feels so strongly about the issue they refuse to work with suppliers that provide raw materials tested on animals to other businesses as well. LUSH aims to promote alternative testing programs that do not use animals.

Support Fair Trade programs and small farms to supply raw materials – LUSH believes that by utilizing Fair Trade ingredients and sourcing raw materials from local farmers is a great way to sustain the environment on a larger scale. The company purchases Fair Trade cocoa butter from the Ivory Coast and Fair Trade shea butter from Ghana. LUSH supports local farmers in British Columbia by harvesting seaweed off the coast of Vancouver Island, sourcing stout from an organic brewery, and obtaining honey from a small local bee farm.