It smells of rosewood and geranium, ylang-ylang and tropical moringa, and it is helping to save the world. Since 2007, all proceeds from the sale of LUSH’s ‘Charity Pot’ hand and body cream ($25.95 for 8.4 ounces) have gone to 850 grass roots charities in 42 countries. That amounts to $10 million. The money supports small organizations whose ethics—concerning humanitarian, environmental and animal welfare efforts—align with LUSH’s philosophy of “protecting people, animals and the planet.” The charities LUSH chooses as partners must meet certain criteria, including small operating budgets. “We feel that small groups are able to bring about change more easily,” says Mandy Kirschner, public relations specialist. “There is less red tape and they are not as beholden to government tax stipulations.”
The Missouri Prairie Foundation has received Charity Pot funds since 2013. LUSH’s donation helps the nonprofit protect the state’s grasslands—considered to be some of the most imperiled habitats on the planet—by providing support for the production of its journal. The foundation consists of volunteers and a staff of two. “It’s wonderful because not only does LUSH give funding to worthy organizations, but it also gives visibility because they themselves are so well known,” says Carol Davit, executive director.
Further afield, in Tanzania, Charity Pot has funded a scheme to harvest rainwater. According to LUSH figures, there are more than 4 billion people worldwide without access to water and consequently, 14,000 people die each day. Save the Rain works village by village to end this crisis by building sustainable, non-electric systems to catch, store and clean rainwater.
In Guatemala, another Charity Pot fund recipient, Hug it Forward, constructs ‘bottle schools’ using upcycled bottles stuffed with inorganic trash. Since 2009, Hug it Forward has facilitated the construction of 53 such schools in Guatemala and El Salvador. Each pot is ‘stamped’ on its lid by one of its charities.
Kirschner says the ‘Fun’ moldable soap (for body, hair, bath and clothes) is another LUSH product doing good in the world: Since 2012, a percentage of sales has been distributed to support recreational activities for young people living in difficult surroundings. Following Japan’s 2011 nuclear power plant disaster, for example, LUSH provided sequestered children with indoor fun and games. These soaps come in rainbow shades and a variety of scents.
But, back to that pot, that lovely smell: it’s warm and rosy, dusky with geranium. There’s a hint of chocolate and a tiny wisp of tea. The lotion is rich with olive oil and shea butter, soothing with Kenyan aloe. All ingredients are fresh and obtained from environmentally ethical, small-scale producers and growers. “We believe,” the Lush website says, “in candlelit baths, sharing showers, massage, filling the world with perfume and the right to make mistakes, lose everything and start again.” But make no mistake here: this little tub of unguent is worth its weight in gold.
LUSH opened a new store at West County Center in April 2015. That year, the store sold 1,097 units of Charity Pot lotion and raised a total of $14,450.
Pictured: Charity Pot liaison Kaetlyn Kuchta, store manager-in-training Sean Balke and store manager Nikki Evans
Photo: Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton Photography
LUSH, the face and body products specialty store in West County Center, donates a portion of proceeds to worthy charities around the world. One-hundred percent of ‘Charity Pot’ sales goes to global grass roots charities, and all proceeds from sales of ‘Hand Of Friendship Soap’ support LUSH’S Friendship Fund, which helps various organizations provide relief to refugees. LUSH is located at 80 West County Center. For more information, call 314.984.5029 or visit lushusa.com. Pictured on the cover: Sean Balke, Nikki Evans, Nikki Vogel and Kaetlyn Kuchta
