The Lush Spring Prize 2025: Celebrating Groundbreakers Regenerating Our Planet

In a world where political leaders and corporations are turning their backs on environmental action and social justice, the Lush Spring Prize stands as a beacon of hope by recognising and supporting those creating conditions for life to thrive. 

Launched in 2017, this biennial £250,000 prize celebrates organisations actively protecting forests and rivers, regenerating damaged ecosystems, revitalising communities, and creating possibilities for a regenerative future.

The Lush Spring Prize is a partnership between Lush and Ethical Consumer, with supporting funding from Be the Earth Foundation, Dixon Foundation, Savitri Trust and the Permaculture Magazine. 

You are invited!

Tune in to the Spring Prize Awards Ceremony livestream on May 29th, 2025 at 6pm BST on www.springprize.org

Add to your calendar here: https://calget.com/e/springprize 

Why Regeneration Matters

One of the accepted definitions of sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Currently, to do both, we need to go beyond maintaining what we have and actively bring life back to land and water, while revitalising communities. The Spring Prize supports organisations doing exactly that— restoring degraded lands, preserving indigenous knowledge and creating resilient food systems.

"Regeneration is not just about fixing past damage—it's about creating a future where people and nature thrive together,” explains Khine Thazin Wai from Tender Shoots, a 2025 Spring Prize shortlisted organisation. 

How Your Bag Charge Makes a Difference

When you purchase a paper bag at Lush, that small charge goes directly toward funding the Spring Prize, transforming an everyday transaction into meaningful ecological and social impact. Since 2017, Lush has distributed over £1.3 million to 85 regenerative projects across 45 countries through this programme. 

Categories Recognise Different Stages of Growth

The Spring Prize understands that transformative initiatives come in different forms and growth stages. That's why it recognises organisations across six distinct categories:

Intentional Award: Supporting new initiatives under one year old that are establishing a foundation for regenerative work.

Young Projects Award: Celebrating projects 1-3 years old that are demonstrating successful implementation of regenerative practices.

Established Projects Award: Recognising organisations with over three years of proven impact in regenerative work.

Influence Award: Honoring those spreading regenerative ideas through education, campaigns, and policy change.

Indigenous Knowledge & Wisdom Award: Celebrating initiatives that preserve and revitalise traditional ecological knowledge.

Permaculture Magazine Award: Recognising outstanding applications of permaculture design principles.

Global Impact, Rooted in Community

The 2025 Spring Prize shortlist includes 58 projects from over 30 countries across six continents. From Welsh permaculture farms tackling food inequality to Indigenous seed guardians in Colombia, from ocean conservation heroes in Madagascar to community resilience centers in Ukraine, these organisations demonstrate that regenerative approaches are emerging worldwide.

"We are all connected to the ocean, not only those on the frontline," explains Valérie Rafaramihanta from Natiora Defenders in Madagascar. "Nature is our heritage, and it is our duty to ensure future generations inherit a healthy and thriving planet."

More Than Just Funding

Beyond financial support, the Spring Prize creates opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking, and visibility. Recipients join a growing global community of regenerative practitioners who learn from each other and amplify their collective impact.

"The word Ubuntu means 'I am because you are,'" shares a member of the Ubuntu Learning Hub Trust in Zambia. "I cannot be fully human alone."

This philosophy of interconnection runs through the Spring Prize network, creating ripples of positive change far beyond the individual projects.

Join the Movement

You too can be part of this transformative work:

• Watch: Tune in to the Spring Prize Awards Ceremony livestream on May 29th, 2025
• Learn: Explore the stories of Spring Prize recipients on the Spring Prize website
• Connect: Follow @LushSpringPrize on social media for updates and inspiration

As we face growing environmental challenges, the Spring Prize reminds us that regenerative alternatives are already emerging through the dedicated work of communities worldwide. While politicians debate, these groundbreakers regenerate—showing us there is a path forward that works for all life.

"To me, regeneration means 'connection.' Connecting nature with nature, nature with people, and generation with generation—this is what allows both our planet and our lives to regenerate. I believe that by fostering these connections, we can create a healthier future." Jihyeon Kim, Battmung, Korea. 

Learn more about Spring Prize's extraordinary shortlisters and how they're creating a lusher world.