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Lush Prize

The Lush Prize is a £250,000 biennial prize fund which awards those working towards a world free from animal testing. It particularly seeks to reward those looking to replace, rather than reduce or refine, animal testing. The Lush Prize is a joint project run by Ethical Consumer and LUSH Cosmetics. 

Animal testing is both inhumane and unscientific and the Prize aims to speed the introduction of non-animal testing, particularly in toxicity testing for consumer products and ingredients.

Launched in 2012 as an annual prize, and becoming biennial in 2018, the prizes are available across a number of categories. These are:

  • Science
  • Training
  • Young Researcher
  • Public Awareness
  • Lobbying
  • Political Achievement

In 2015 we also awarded a Black Box Prize, for a major breakthrough in 21st Century Toxicology – the area which holds out most hope for a ‘Eureka’ moment leading to the replacement of animal tests. The full £250,000 was awarded to a group of scientists involved in mapping, designing and approving replacement tests in the human toxicity pathway of skin sensitisation (allergy).

Lush Prize winners are chosen by a panel of independent judges comprising of research scientists, campaigners, politicians and members of the public. An awards ceremony and conference is held during each prize cycle.

Image: Lush Prize

Ethical Consumer's role in the Lush Prize

The Prize combines the research and campaigning skills of Ethical Consumer and the passion and resources of Lush staff and is the biggest prize in the non-animal testing sector. The Prize will continue until all animal testing has been replaced.

Ethical Consumer administers all aspects of the prize in collaboration with Lush Cosmetics.

This includes:

  • Facilitating the judging process
  • Promoting the Prize online and at international conferences
  • Organising the awards ceremony and conference
  • Providing briefing papers on the latest developments in areas of science and campaigning relevant to the Prize
10 years of Lush prize 2012-2022

Lush Prize Conference

The Lush Prize hosts a conference in each prize year to coincide with the awards ceremony and prize giving.

The conferences provide an opportunity for scientists, campaigners and other experts from around the world to exchange ideas and information about the movement to end animal testing.

The Lush Prize 2022 Conference explored what progress has been made during the past decade to end the use of animals in research and testing, with the theme Lush Prize 2012-2022 (and beyond)….what progress has been made?

We have held conferences and awards ceremonies in London and Berlin, as well as online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Find out more from the Lush Prize website.

What's happening now?

Between 2012 and 2022, Lush Prize has given £2.69 million to 130 winners in 30 countries (all continents except Antarctica!).

In 2022 there were 10 winning projects, organisations and scientists from 8 nations. They shared a prize fund of £250,000.

Nominations for the 2024 Prize are due to open in August 2023.

To keep up to date with the work of the Lush Prize visit www.lushprize.org