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Lush Prize

Image: Lush Prize

The Lush Prize is a £350,000 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. 

The prizes are available across a number of categories. These are:

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

In any year where there is 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, a Black Box Prize of up to the entire annual fund can be awarded to the individual or team responsible. In 2015 a Black Box Prize of £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).

The winner's are chosen by a panel of independent judges comprising of research scientists, campaigners, politicians and members of the public. The awards ceremony is held in Autumn.

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
  • Marketing and press work
  • Organising the awards ceremony
  • Providing briefing papers on the latest developments in the fields of toxicology, and animal rights campaigning.

Whats happening now?

The Lush Prize 2017 had 18 winners from different 11 countries, sharing a total of £330,000 in prize money. One other project was commended by the judges. A new annual award for outstanding contribution towards ending animal testing was also created. The non-financial prize is named after Andrew Tyler, former director of Animal Aid and a founding Lush Prize judge.

The Lush Prize 2018 shortlist has also been announced, which includes 56 projects from 17 countries.This year’s prize saw its first entrants from Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Turkey. Winners will be announced in November, at the award ceremony in Berlin. 

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