Green for Profit or Green for the Environment?

-

Freshly Made, Fiercely Ethical: The Enduring Legacy of Lush Cosmetics 

  • Identify a retail brand that you believe is socially or ethically responsible.

This company claims to be the inventor of the bath bomb and creator of a cosmetic revolution. Lush Cosmetics, founded in 1995, is an ethical and environmentally friendly company. The brand has a unique approach where their products are 100% vegetarian, 85% vegan, and are “naked” in store. You will find all of their items unboxed and available for testing in store through a “deli approach”, marketing the store as sustainable. 



  • How do you believe the company conducts business in a socially responsible way? Support your answer by discussing specific examples.

Corporate social responsibility encompasses an organizations effort to show consumers they are socially responsible (Consumer Behavior). Lush has a significant number of activities that highlight their CSR. 250 thousand euros are awarded each year to individuals working in the cruelty free research field, recyclable containers are used (and collected back to the store) with stickers of the actual creators (ensuring they are ethically sourced) and Lush created the Charity Pot Fund which raised 2 million dollars for environmental, humanitarian and animal rights charities. (Trotter 2017). The brand also hosts a showcase event that explores creativity across music, product, film and technology as well as the Lush Film Fund for young filmmakers wanting to break into the industry. (Trotter 2017). Overall, Lush, is a very well rounded company concerning CSR. 

SD Store Review: LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics - Style Domination

  • Has the company ever been involved in any incidents in which they were accused of not conducting business in an ethical or socially responsible manner? If so, briefly discuss the legal issues related to the incident(s).

Lush had an incident in 2014 where it was discovered that their mica manufacturer in India was using child labor. (Fearn, H., & Nesbitt, H. 2014). While they were auditing the mica company due to previous concerns, Lush claimed the unethical practices were “hidden” due to the mica mines being unsafe for visitors. The company decided to not only cut ties with the manufacture, but completely cut mica out of their products since they could not guarantee child labor was not being used. 

  • Do you feel the company is "green" for profit or "green" for the environment?

I believe Lush is green for the environment. It is clear they take the appropriate steps in maintaining ethically sourced fresh materials for their handmade products. This shows in their price point, which is slightly higher than you would find in traditional bath products. 




LUSH Cosmetics – Beauty on an Environmental Budget | ENVT 200 01




Fearn, H., & Nesbitt, H. (2014, March 10). Lush to remove mica from all products over child labour fears. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/lush-removes-mica-child-labour

‌




Trotter, C. (2017, September 19). 30 things you didn’t know about Lush Cosmetics - Insider Trends. Insider Trends. https://www.insider-trends.com/30-things-you-didnt-know-about-lush-cosmetics/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Analyzing How Brands Apply the Marketing Mix

-
Image
Poppi - DoorDash - Coca-Cola Brand Stage Comparison  Poppi, DoorDash, and Coca-Cola demonstrate how businesses at different life cycle stages must adopt different strategies. While Poppi is working to capture attention and define its brand, DoorDash is expanding rapidly to solidify its place in the market. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola focuses on longevity, loyalty, and consistent reinvention to maintain relevant. 
Read more

Preliminary Findings and Limitations on Nikes HydroFit Adapt Shoes

-
Image
  Nikes Objectives   The market research conducted for Nike suggests the brand has a high focus on athletic inclusion, innovation, sustainability practices, and digital presence. The HydroFit Adapt concept shoe incorporates all of these aspects. By creating apparel that considered future objectives , Nike can stay ahead of its competitors. HydroFit Adapt fills the gap for smart water shoe footwear demand.      Current and Future Industry Trends   Technology in Activewear    The Nike Hydrofit Adapt aligns with current key industry trends and the future of sportswear.  The rise of technology in sports and growing interest in wearables position Nike to have a competitive edge when creating HydroFit Adapt. There are future opportunities for Nike to integrate AI technology to enhance the self-adjusting fit, allowing the shoe to learn from user movements in varying terrains.      Sustainability Movement   Sustainability is...
Read more

Dunkin’s Rebrand: How Simplifying a Name Strengthened a Brand

-
Image
Dunkin's Successful Brand Positioning Dunkin’, once known as Dunkin’ Donuts, is a fast food brand that has built its identity around serving quick, quality coffee along with drive through breakfast foods. Its mission is to make people’s day by offering great-tasting beverages and food, served fast and fresh. (Pereira D., 2023).  Over time, the brand has evolved to reflect changing consumer habits, focusing more on being a beverage-led, on-the-go brand. This shift was reinforced through a major rebrand in 2018, when the company officially dropped “Donuts” from its name. By simplifying its branding and emphasizing convenience and coffee, Dunkin’ has repositioned itself to stay relevant in a competitive market while still delivering on its core promise. This change signals to consumers and competitors that Dunkin’ is more than a donut shop but serious competition in the coffee market. The updated logo kept the recognizable pink and orange color palette, maintaining brand familiarity w...
Read more