Lush launches circular recycling ‘Green Hub’

Ethical cosmetics retailer Lush, has invested £2.3 million in its new Green Hub in Poole, expanding and reinforcing its commitment to the circular economy.

The Green Hub is a building that showcases Lush’s commitment to and investment in finding solutions for materials that could be considered as waste.

With six core teams working together at the Green Hub, Lush is creating circular economies, working to close the loop on packaging and water waste, and find solutions to reuse, repurpose, repair and recycle materials from across their business.

Lush has operated a Green Hub facility since 2015, and recognising the potential of an in house location dedicated to waste management, the brand invested £2.3m in relocating to and refitting its new 40,000 sq ft premises on the Fleets Corner Business Park. With a building three times the size of its previous location, the capabilities of the Green Hub for processing and reinventing waste have upscaled and expanded.

Key functions of the new Green Hub include: granulating plastic as part of the brand’s closed loop Bring it Back recycling scheme; treating wastewater from their manufacturing and laundry processes; repairing machinery to prevent purchasing new; and donating surplus products and lifestyle items to charities and grassroots groups across the country.

In 2022, from the new location, Lush was able to recycle 81% of its UK Manufacturing waste, repair over 700 electrical items and donate more than 107,000 products and lifestyle items to those in need.

In 2023, with the Green Hub running at its full capacity the capabilities are only set to grow. Using their PET and PPE plastic granulators, the Green Hub team will be able to process 20 tonnes of plastic per week in a closed loop, while the DAF water treatment unit will bring Lush’s wastewater treatment process in-house, processing 500 tonnes of dirty water each year and preventing the need to transport wastewater off-site.
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As well as taking responsibility for its own waste, Lush wants to encourage and join others in finding solutions to waste problems. The Green Hub will be the first space the brand will be opening to the public on its UK Manufacturing campus, with a schedule of events, workshops and community engagement opportunities designed to allow for environmental focused education and collaboration between local and national businesses, councils, schools and community groups.