Bring It Back: The LUSH way to recycle

Lush has a closed-loop recycling system for our iconic black pots, and some of our other packaging as well. So when you return your containers to Lush, we recycle them and you get a free fresh face mask or money off your next order.

We’ve always looked for ways to reduce further waste in our processes—from innovating naked products to creating our closed-loop packaging system. 

Some time ago, we learned that even with all of the domestic recycling programs across the world, only around nine percent of plastics are actually recycled. Half of the world’s plastic still goes straight to landfill, and another 20 percent is mismanaged (meaning not recycled, incinerated or kept in sealed landfills, putting it at risk of being leaked into rivers, lakes and oceans. All of which goes to explain why a staggering 90 percent of plastic products are made with virgin (aka. unrecycled) plastic extracted from fossil fuels. While plastic is an incredibly useful tool, we’re confident we don’t need to be producing any more of it at this stage. There’s plenty to go around.

What packaging is eligible for Bring It Back?

Let’s get super specific for a moment. We accept all the following for the Bring It Back program:

• Clean #5 polypropylene (PP) clear and black plastic pots (with lids) 45 g/1.5 oz and over. 
• #5 polypropylene (PP) plastic makeup packaging, including mascara tubes, face powder, temple balms (in the black plastic packaging, not tins) and lip tubes (not tins).

How to recycle your Lush packaging

Prefer watching to reading? You can check out this helpful video here. If you’re a fan of lists, then read on. 

Step One

Enjoy your favorite Lush products that come packaged in black or clear pots, as well as mascara and lip balm tubes.

Step Two

Use up the very last bits, then give pots a good scrub with soap and water and give tubes a thorough rinse.

Step Three

Return one piece of eligible packaging for $1 off your next order or save up five and trade them in for a free fresh face mask of your choice.

Step Four

We take your packaging and recycle it!

How exactly are we recycling your packaging?

After you return your pots and tubes, they are then shipped to our recycling partners in British Columbia or Ontario (whichever’s closer) for processing. That means shredding, washing and pelletizing. These new raw materials are then used by our supplier to make new pots that can be filled with even more Lush goodness, creating the closed-loop system. 

Need even more details? We’ve got you:

• You return your used clean Lush packaging to one of our stores (and we appreciate you for it!).
• We send them to one of our recycling partners to be shredded, washed and dried.
• This processed plastic is then melted down, extruded into spaghetti-like strands and chopped into pellets.
• Once this is done, these pellets are melted with other post-consumer plastic (previously used to package food), and we add a touch of black colorant.
• All this melted plastic magic is poured into a mold to become new Lush containers that can once more be filled with fresh product! Pretty neat, eh?

If you are still curious about our Bring It Back program, head into a Lush location to ask one of our staff or take a look at our Bring It Back Terms & Conditions for more helpful insight into closed-loop recycling.