Print Solutions
Deloitte's Sustainable Consumer report for 2023 underscores a significant shift in consumer behaviour, revealing that one in three consumers (30%) have ceased purchasing certain brands or products due to ethical or sustainability related concerns. This growing emphasis on conscientious consumption reflects an evolving consumer landscape, where sustainability and ethical practices are paramount. Against this ever evolving backdrop, Lush stands as a beacon of integrity within the cosmetics industry. Established in 1995 in Poole, the company has garnered global recognition for its unwavering commitment to cruelty free, vegetarian and vegan friendly products, as well as its fervent advocacy for animal rights, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
While Lush has long been a leader in ethical cosmetics, their commitment to innovation extends beyond their product formulations. One area where this innovation is evident is in its approach to prototype printing and packaging, where the company has embraced Roland DG’s UV printing technology to streamline its operations and reduce environmental footprint.
Housed within Lush's research and development hub, the Roland DG TrueVis LG-640 printer/cutter plays a pivotal role in the creation of prototype product packaging for new products. Simon Allen, senior research and development within creative production at Lush, emphasises the significance of this technology, stating: ‘Our previous printer constrained us to specific substrates, leading us to outsource portions of our packaging development process. With the LG-Series, we have significantly expanded our capabilities, thanks to its broad media compatibility. Now, we can print on diverse materials, including brown kraft paper, which has become emblematic of the Lush brand.’
The integration of the cutter within the LG series has significantly enhanced Simon and his team's efficiency in the prototyping process, allowing them to allocate more time to innovation. Simon explained, ‘Prior to acquiring the LG-series, we relied on four or five individuals manually cutting packaging and stickers. Now, with the integrated cutter, we have streamlined our workflow, saving at least three to four hours per week and bringing all packaging back in-house. Packaging emerges from the print cycle fully prepared for use.’
Lush leverages its 104 stores as advocacy hubs, championing causes such as 'Trains not planes', Veganuary, 'Have a Heart', and 'Refugees welcome'. Central to this advocacy are the captivating window displays in the stores, serving as a platform for the projection of its diverse campaigns. Traditionally, window graphics were outsourced due to size constraints and time limitations. However, in the recently opened Glasgow flagship store and anchor shop, Lush took advantage of Roland DG's LG-640 to internally produce large window graphics, facilitating greater flexibility and efficiency in its advocacy efforts.
The LG-640's one pass multilayer printing capability enables Lush to seamlessly apply three layers of ink in a single job, even when handling extensive print runs. Additionally, the printer offers adaptable ink configurations tailored to diverse customer preferences. From ensuring brand accurate colours to achieving premium gloss and texture effects, the ink options cater to a wide spectrum of needs, allowing Lush to print brand accurate colours for any season or campaign.
The LG-640 also enables the company to experiment with ink combinations like orange and red, leveraging Roland DG's extensive range of orange and red inks to enrich their colour palette and enhance visual depth. Moreover, the inclusion of high opacity white ink, specifically designed for window graphics, facilitates the rapid production of high quality prints while optimising ink use.
Simon, reflecting on the LG Series printer's capability in printing window graphics, remarked: ‘With the LG Series, we can effortlessly print the most intricate window graphics using a wide range of premium EUV inks. Adding to this, the adjustable media take up unit accommodates rolls of any size, enabling us to leave the machine unattended during printing runs, a task that previously required constant supervision.
‘We also use Roland’s software that works and creates as much impact as the hardware. VersaWorks 6 is user friendly, even for novices on the team, enabling detailed colour matching with built-in Roland DG Color System and Pantone libraries, tracking ink usage with a predictive ink calculator, and effectively managing jobs with five print queues.’
Looking to the future, Lush has already purchased two VersaStudio BN-20 desktop printers to diversify the range of products that it can print upon, and sees the potential for further expansion and innovation with Roland DG technology. Simon envisions replicating the successful research and development hub model to other markets, including its North American offices, leveraging Roland DG printers to enhance operations overseas.
In terms of its broader vision, the company remains committed to the core values of ethical sourcing, environmental sustainability, and advocacy for social justice. Simon concluded, ‘In five years, I see Lush continuing to lead the way in ethical cosmetics, not only in our product formulations but also in our manufacturing processes. With partners like Roland DG, we are confident that we can continue to innovate and make a positive impact on the world.’
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