Lush products are designed to be solid at the invention stage, enabling fewer preservatives and less packaging to be used. The company wanted to find a more sustainable packaging alternative, made from a polymer that was easier to recycle.

Lush’s packaging buyer, Maria Feast, said: “When Lush do have to use packaging for cosmetic products we think carefully about the journey it undertakes, both in getting to us and when it leaves.

“Many councils don’t have a process in place to recycle all different types of plastics, however we do know that all plastics can be recycled – it’s just a case of finding someone with a system in place.”

Currently, polypropylene plastic is not recycled by all local authorities, which led Lush to approach Remarkable. The manufacturer developed a system to use Lush black plastic product pots as recycled stock for the Pillar of Fizz packaging and for a limited edition gift created, called the Cyclist Repair Kit, in addition to backing for promotional badges.

Lush has also created an in-store takeback scheme for its black product pots and plastic bottle tops. These items are tdistributed to either the Lush pot manufacturer in Poole, or Remarkable’s eco-factory in Worcester, where they are be washed, made into small plastic chips and melted back into new pots again for use in store.

Maxine Perella

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