Ong Chin Huat swapped the bright lights, glitz, and glamour for something more natural when he headed out with Lush Malaysia on a coral planting initiative in the Johor Islands.
Recently, Lush Malaysia organised an adventure-packed trip to the Johor islands, which would also be an extraordinary environmental education for the fortunate few invited to participate.
Lush Malaysia, led by director Dr Harvinder Harchand, is part of the Lush Group and was established 29 years ago in the United Kingdom. Since then, the company has built an enviable reputation in its industry thanks to its highly popular and innovative range of self-care products. This reputation has been bolstered further by its much-publicised ethical stance on a range of issues, including animal testing, fair trade, and regeneration.
With these principles firmly in mind, Lush Malaysia, in partnership with the Johor State Government and Tunku Tun Aminah Sultan Ibrahim Ismail, organised a trip to the Rawa and Tengah islands in the South China Sea, for an extraordinary and educational journey under the sea.
Joining the above in supporting the initiative was Tengah Island Conservation, ably supported by a team of celebrities, leading media members, and environmentalists who jumped at the opportunity to help plant new coral and involve themselves in various environment-boosting activities.
The proceedings commenced in the presence of the Johor Princess at the Tunku Abdul Jalil Conservation Centre on Tengah Island. Here, Tunku Aminah and her husband, Dato’ Dennis Muhammad Abdullah, learned the art of making Lush bath bombs at a workshop, alongside partaking in some coral planting.
This coral planting initiative by Lush Malaysia on the Johor Islands wasn’t the couple’s first—they have previously done similar exercises at Lang Tengah Island and Gaya Island.
This latest initiative is only a small part of the company’s commitment to regenerating biodiversity and strengthening coral reef resilience against climate change.
According to Dr Harchand, planting and, in effect, regenerating coral reefs goes beyond the obvious benefit of restoring our oceans.
Dr Harchand explained, “Apart from coral reefs providing essential habitats and protecting the shorelines from extreme weather, they also play an essential role in tourism. Regenerating coral reefs benefits coastal communities, fisheries and wildlife while contributing to climate regulation.”
There is a difference between sustainability and regeneration. The former maintains and preserves what already exists in our ecosystems, while the latter goes beyond sustaining the current ecosystem by restoring and improving it. Coral planting aligns perfectly with Lush’s global mission of regenerating marine ecosystems and fostering a thriving natural environment.
Unlike so many others in the wellness space, Lush doesn’t just talk the talk. It is a global beauty company with a campaigning heart built around an ethos of creating a beauty product for every need while beginning a cosmetic revolution to save the planet.
As mentioned earlier, Lush operates a strict policy focused on helping the planet and its people. It is vehemently against animal testing and leads the cosmetics industry in combating overpackaging by developing products that can be sold ‘naked’ to the consumer.
This has clearly worked well for it. Today, the group operates in 52 countries via 850 outlets, supported by 36 websites shipping worldwide, a global network of native apps, broadcasting channels, and digital communities in over 30 languages.
“At Lush, we strive to enhance the health of people, places and the planet. This coral planting initiative perfectly aligns with our missions, restoring marine ecosystems and involving the community. Our global efforts include partnerships that protect forests and wildlife, demonstrate our commitment to regenerative practices and going beyond sustainability,” added Dr. Harchand.
You can learn more about Lush Malaysia’s sustainability initiatives and see its full range of products on its website www.lush.my.