Lush Cosmetics is known for being one of the first companies to unite makeup and environmental responsibility. All of Lush’s makeup and body products are vegan and made with the environment in mind.
Not only their products but also their packaging is highly environmentally friendly. The company makes it clear that the goal of Lush packaging is to eliminate as much packaging waste as possible and keep any material usage to a minimum.
At least half of their products can be purchased without any packaging, such as their soaps, bath bombs, and shampoo bars. By weight, 90% of Lush packaging is made from recycled materials.
In its strive to be a leader in smart packaging initiatives across the globe, the cosmetics retail chain has recently announced that it is to introduce new in-store packaging made from 100% recycled coffee cup fibre.
The company has teamed with up James Cropper 3D Products to create a bespoke piece of packaging for its solid bath oils, aimed at enhancing the customer shopping experience in a practical and sustainable way.
The product will be made using Colourform™, which is described as “a sustainable alternative to plastic and other packaging materials”, with Lush’s packaging comprising 100% recycled coffee cup fiber from James Cropper’s own recycling plant.
The collaborative approach ensured that the creation met aesthetic requirements while overcoming potential technical challenges, such as the material’s ability to withstand the moisture of products.
Kirstie Maclean, a member of the R&D/Brand Production team at Lush, said that the new packaging had been developed in response to “sincere considerations around waste, single use materials and functional design. The outcome is a slick, sustainable, lightweight, and transportable box to allow the customer a ‘pick-and-mix’ experience with the products.”
The reusable packaging was introduced online and to major U.K. stores in September 2017, with a global rollout following.
Matthew Miller, business director at James Cropper 3D Products, said the new Colourform™, material could “revolutionize the packaging industry”. “As more brands like Lush come on board and ditch plastic where possible, we can really amplify our protest against waste and collectively move towards a more sustainable future,” he said.
The product is the latest in a series of initiatives to identify potential end uses for coffee cups, which have been the source of high profile complaints over their low recycling rates.
