Employees of Lush Handmade Cosmetics are taking their environmental concerns to the streets and will stage a semi-naked protest outside stores on Wednesday.
Wearing only revealing deli-style aprons reading “Ask me why I’m naked”, employees will urge shoppers to “go naked” by purchasing goods that don’t contain packaging.
Sales teams will hand out pamphlets detailing the environmental impact of packaged goods sold in cosmetic stores, supermarkets and other retailers.
Lush claims to lead the cosmetics industry in efforts to eliminate packaging by selling products not requiring plastic bottles. The chain’s solid shampoo bars, conditioners, massage bars, body butters, bubble bars and soaps are sold deli-style without packaging.
Lush Australasia MD, Mark Lincoln, describes packaging as “rubbish”.
“Now that the true financial and environmental costs are becoming obvious, customers are challenging manufacturers and retailers to cut the wrap,” he says.
Lush’s naked campaign is part of a coordinated effort with similar events taking place around Australia and in New Zealand.