Could You Supply Raw Materials to Lush?

[southeast-isher]

Just had this in my email inbox and thought it might interest some of you on here:

Lush is one of the UK's leading ethical businesses, making fresh handmade cosmetics from natural ingredients and have become the most recent of businesses to become members of the Permaculture Association.

Each year they use thousands of kilos of a wide range of fresh plant ingredients in products, such as herbs, fruit, essential oils, and also honey. In becoming a business member of the Permaculture Association, they are choosing to give their love (and money) to suppliers that respect the local environment and the animals and people living there.

Lush are looking to cut out the middle men and start developing long-term relationships with raw material suppliers in the UK who practice ecological agriculture. It's hoped this will lead to a bioregional supply network where materials are bought fresh and direct from green small producers and cooperatives.

It has been recognised that permaculture growers and those participating in the LAND project could produce a lot of the things that Lush need - and providing it is of the right quality, they can give you a guaranteed market for it.

You may even already be producing lots of something that isn't currently used, but which grows well in the UK and could make a great new product! New suggestions are always welcomed! At the moment they are particularly looking for UK honey.

You don’t need to have organic certification and all the paperwork, just be trustworthy and show a commitment to farming without chemicals in a way that benefits nature. If you want to become a regular Lush supplier, they may also be able to help out with some initial capital costs to get you started, for example a small essential oil distillery for a group of producers to share.

You might not be able to produce everything used each year, but help is also available to organise cooperatives where smaller producers pool their crops and perhaps share some primary processing facilities.

If you are interested, or have any questions or suggestions please get in touch with Paulo@lush.co.uk

You can find out more about Lush's environmental policy on their website: www.lush.co.uk

[MKG]

Without prejudice ...

What the hell does bioregional mean?

Mike

[southeast-isher]

Without prejudice ...

What the hell does bioregional mean?

Mike

not sure myself but just found this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioregionalism

[MKG]

Right. Thanks for that link SEIsher, but it's as I feared - buzzword use with no reason. They do say that they'll buy from anyone with a very loose "green" definition, so they can't really claim bioregionality as well. Can they?

Ah - maybe it's me. But I do get heartfully tired of companies claiming green credentials when, actually, they couldn't give a s**t. I leave it for everyone else to make up their own minds.

Mike

[Green Aura]

Don't think I'll be applying for this. I really dislike their products.

I can't work out how a shop who (I think) only use natural products, gives me a headache 100 yards up the street, just like when I go near the perfume counter in any department store. Yet I work up to 12 hours a day surrounded by essential oils without ever feeling ill

[naomij]

Just my opinion but...lush shmush.

I was persuaded by raving friends to try it a while ago. I have never spent so much money on something which irritated my skin so much and seemed to have zero green credentials, besides being made from plants and stuff (which most things are to some extent). I also cannot stand being harassed by sales staff when I am having a wee browse.

I bought ds a bathbomb and, though I didn;t use it, I did touch it in the shop, and my eczema took ages to recover

However the idea that some individual smallholder might be able to get an income from this company does seem vaguely satisfying for some reason

[Millymollymandy]

Don't think I'll be applying for this. I really dislike their products.

I can't work out how a shop who (I think) only use natural products, gives me a headache 100 yards up the street, just like when I go near the perfume counter in any department store. Yet I work up to 12 hours a day surrounded by essential oils without ever feeling ill

Absolutely! That is EXACTLY what I was going to say! I only went into one of their shops because I'd heard about Lush on this forum and couldn't believe how revolting it smelt!

Also I can't understand a word of the gobbledigook explanation about that buzzword.

Apart from that, nice idea of theirs.

[becks77]

My daughter cant go near the shop, and I mean within 20feet of the door without sneezing and asthma attacks!
No thanks

[crowsashes]

Don't think I'll be applying for this. I really dislike their products.

I can't work out how a shop who (I think) only use natural products, gives me a headache 100 yards up the street, just like when I go near the perfume counter in any department store. Yet I work up to 12 hours a day surrounded by essential oils without ever feeling ill

some essential oils, if used in excess can cause headaches. lavender for example although calming if too much is used can cause a migraine in susceptible people. my mum gets migraines from the scent of lemons and oranges. maybe the combination of all those scents is whats setting of the headache?

as to the eczema flaring up, essential oils can also cause it to flare up but it depends on the person and your allergies. i can use some aromatherapy oils but not others. fresh coconut is fine, coconut oil on the other hand gives me a rash.

[Green Aura]

Thanks crowsashes - I'm an Aromatherapist. I only use essential oils in all my products and treatments. Many of my treatments, these days, involve high quantities of neat essential oils - I'm training in Aromatology (Aromatic Medicine) - often as much as 5ml (100drops) of a blend at a time.

So when I say I'm surrounded by oils all the time I mean it, big style. I've never had a headache from them yet.

But I get headaches from perfumes - which I presume contain lab-produced smells as well as essential oils - I get this headache in the street before even entering Lush, so overpowering is the smell.

[southeast-isher]

All perfume seems to give me a headache which is why i don't like it. But it sounds like maybe there are some essential oils or something that could be a good alternative? Not for me though, i don't wear perfume!

[mrsflibble]

I ,like lush, but i couldnt grow enough stuff to supply them. unless they want grass?

[Russian Doll]

love lush even as far as to admit i applied for a job in there to just get the 50 percent discount lol

[Loobyloo]

I worked in a lush for about 4 years and loved it. Everything I owned smelt like lush so I dare say I wouldn't have been very popular with some of you!

I can't say if this is the case now as the product range has changed hugely since I last worked there but in my time there the only synthetic scent used in any of the products was synthetic musk. All other scents were from essential oils.

And I have to say that my sense of smell is much more sensitive (even now) than most peoples from having used it so much.

My only problem now is that I still love the products but as I don't get the 50% discount any more I can't afford them.

[Big Al]

I worked in a lush for about 4 years and loved it. Everything I owned smelt like lush so I dare say I wouldn't have been very popular with some of you!

I can't say if this is the case now as the product range has changed hugely since I last worked there but in my time there the only synthetic scent used in any of the products was synthetic musk. All other scents were from essential oils.

And I have to say that my sense of smell is much more sensitive (even now) than most peoples from having used it so much.

My only problem now is that I still love the products but as I don't get the 50% discount any more I can't afford them.

Too true,
If I had the money I'd live in lush shops.....