Lush says companies should use 'power and privilege' to speak out over Gaza

Lush Cosmetics has defended its decision to close its stores in a one-day act of solidarity with Gaza, with its director of ethics telling Middle East Eye it was an "act of desperation".

Hilary Jones said companies had a duty to use their platforms to raise global issues.

"People in positions of power and privilege, which we are, we own shops on the busiest high streets in the world and we should be using that platform to help people who don't have that platform," she said.

"And in the circumstance at the moment, the people of Gaza are not being heard, they're not being seen. And so, it was a no-brainer for us to use our windows to say something and to bring it to the attention of the government."

The company, one of the largest beauty retailers in the UK, shut its shops in the country in a one-day demonstration of solidarity with Gaza on Wednesday.

Alongside its more than 100 locations in the UK, Lush also closed its factories and website.

Jones conceded that the move could have risked the company losing money, but said it was necessary in the current climate.

"I think I think it's fair to say that it's almost an act of desperation," she said.

The closure came as Israel’s ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip nears its second year - with a death toll of more than 63,000 - and amid a surge in famine-related deaths, as Israel continues to block almost all food, aid and medical supplies from entering the besieged enclave. 

The UK suspended some arms export licences to Israel in September 2024 over the risk of UK-made weapons being used in violation of international law in the Gaza Strip.  

Arms campaigners and dozens of MPs have called for a full embargo on arms exports to Israel, as well as greater transparency from the government over the military export licences it approves.

"All of us around the world that want to help are feeling that frustration. And as a business, you know, there aren't that many ways of expressing it," said Jones.

"So, in light of not being able to do anything physical to help, it just leaves the messaging. And as a retail business and as a manufacturing business, we really felt that the strongest message that we could give was to stop what we were doing, to simply stop and say: 'You know, this, this is all we can do.'"

'An absolute disgrace'

Many in the UK have become increasingly frustrated at the government's seemingly contradictory stances on the war in Gaza.

On Monday afternoon, Foreign Secretary David Lammy told parliament that the government intends to follow through on its threat to recognise a Palestinian state later this month if Israel fails to meet a series of conditions.

Those conditions, announced in late July, include Israel agreeing to a ceasefire and pledging not to annex any of the occupied West Bank. 

Meanwhile, military cooperation with Israel has quietly continued.

The government has exempted licences for UK parts for F-35 fighter jets, which are used in Gaza, from an arms embargo on Israel.

Surveillance flights over Gaza have also continued, with Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) sharing intelligence with Israel.

The MoD has insisted the flights are to assist in the rescue of captives, but details remain shrouded in secrecy. It is unclear whether the data provided has been used in Israeli air strikes that have killed civilians.

Lush has long aligned itself with progressive causes. 

In September 2019, the company closed its doors for a day as part of a global climate strike, inspired by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Jones said that Lush was "born out of consumer boycotts", referring to its choice not to stock products that are tested on animals and involve other unethical practices.

"It's an absolute disgrace that it's come to this, that the only thing we could do was shut it," said Jones.

"Every government of this world needs to be speaking out about what's happening. Every charity needs to be speaking out about what's happening. Every institution, education institutions, health institutions in countries all over the world should be speaking up."