Recap of fog tv. vol.3 -Introduction to Regeneration-

7/22(木)に行ったfog tv vol.3の内容レポートです。これからfogにてインターンを行う Hannahさんが英語でまとめてくれました。

Hannah Ikeba(イケバ ハンナ) さんはイギリス在住で、大学院進学を前にfogへと興味を持ってくれました。これからEnvironment and Developmentを専攻する彼女ですが、オンラインにて遠隔でインターンとして携わることになりました。主に循環や再生に関わる現地調査と情報発信をしていく予定です！また改めてご紹介させてください。

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This is the report of fog tv vol.3 I went to on Thursday, July 22.This time the theme is -Introduction to Regeneration-. We invited Mr. Ruth Andrade, Lush's global environment manager, to talk directly with her who is one of the world's forerunners of regeneration.

If you missed it, click here .All this time in English, but the content is very rich, so please watch it if you like.

This report was written in English by Hannah Ikeba, who will be an intern at fog. (I would like to introduce Ms. Hannah separately!) 

 

Introduction to Regeneration
Talk with Ruth Andrade, Lush Regenerative Impact and Earth Care of Lush

“Leave the world Lusher than we found it”

Lush aims to not only benefit the quality of human life, but also contribute to a healthy ecosystem worldwide that maintains its ability to support complex life systems while we making effective products from it.

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How can Lush make sure interactions are creating more of a capacity for the planet to sustain life?**

Since the supply chain of Lush directly impacts ecosystems and biodiversity through the extraction of natural resources, Lush aims to to have an integrated and holistic approach to make this interaction more positive, where consumers benefit from attaining beauty products, but also ensuring that the ecosystem is Unharmed too and a greater circular economy is achieved. Thus, Lush acknowledges their corporate social responsibility to conduct business more sustainability and emphasises their role in a “regenerative” economy.

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So how does Lush conduct business within planetary boundaries to sustain complex life on the planet? **

Lush acknowledges their responsibility to actively improve the health of communities and ecosystems involved with their supply chain.Company have created economic and scientific models (eg. measuring health of forests by studying biotic exchanges between local biota) determine how business conducted.However, there is a dated impression that these models are separated and so companies need to integrate and intertwine these models.
Life operates through connections (ie. between nature and humans) and so Lush aims to maximise beneficial interactions when designing human interactions. By asking questions such as how can we make sure business benefits from communications with the supply chain? how can prices be made more fair for consumers? how can our business collaborate with governments to create more sustainable connections? Lush will be able to expand its business while positively impacting the environment. Ruth appreciates the idea that humans have co-evolved alongside nature and the importance of preserving both to maintain a balanced system where people can thrive in a healthy environment. Thus, she emphasises the importance of creating an educational, manufacturing model that balances different cultures, places and diversity to make the environment more resilient to stresses. Additionally, she enhances the idea that everywhere has a unique ecology that needs to be appreciated. For example, Lush started working with a permaculture group allowing them to design systems to meet various food needs, products for shelter etc. that is more integrated with natural principles.

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Why appreciating uniqueness is important**

A prime example regarding interaction acknowledgement, Lush works with the Masaai tribes in Kenya, who are being impacted by climate change and invasive species. 

In particular, a species of aloe endemic (unique) to that area was found and a business project started where the local villagers used them to create cosmetics and sold them to Lush with support from their government (they are now being awarded a license to export their cosmetics).
However, these aloe species were being threatened by an invasive cactus species which induced erosion and harmed local animals (through consumption of their needles). By studying this cactus, they created juice out of it and exploited oil from the seeds (which is extremely expensive and high in value) and used it in products. By doing this, they tackle the problem of invasive species (since using seeds means the cactus can no longer grow back) and are also to make a profit. 

Tales from Laikipia: prickly pear jam

Therefore, Ruth highlights the importance of being open-minded and not solely focusing on one specific product the company works with - by including other factors, they are able to solve any potential problems and elevate the quality of life for local communities who are indirectly affected by the supply chain processes. 

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Aims for the future
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Despite the climate change movement gaining more attention and support, the environmental movement very much places its attention on action at the individual level.Change will only occur beyond this level and Ruth drew a similarity to the BLM movement.Racism is a systemic issue where it is not enough for a sole individual not to be racist, but they need to take active action to make an impact well beyond their own interactions. Similar to this, we need to move from an individualistic thinking to truly change things for the better at the ecosystem-level.

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We Learned And Thought A Lot about the concept of regeneration. Thank you very much for this precious chance, Ruth! The archive of the Youtube is here .

Next time, on Wednesday, August 5th, we will have Hannah, who was an intern in the UK living in the beginning, to do an online tour of Mercato Metropolitano in the UK!

We will contact you for details.Please look forward to it!