While major retailers like Target and Walmart have scaled back on their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), cosmetics brand Lush temporarily renamed three of its bath bombs “Diversity,” “Equity,” and “Inclusion,” doubling down on its own commitment. The British retailer known for its handmade and cruelty-free range of bath, hair, and skin care products, diversity is part of the brand’s DNA, said Amanda Lee Sipenock Fisher, lead of Lush’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging program, and if anything, an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January cracking down on DEI initiatives only encouraged the company to amp up its efforts. (A federal judge has since blocked certain parts of the anti-DEI orders.) “A lot of us had a reaction, especially leading up to the executive order, where, at first it felt like it’s a shame to see, especially when we look at the power and the ability and the influence that corporations have to not just on their customers’ lives, but their staff’s lives, and the benefits that come from having an intentional, allocated DEI program on the staff experience,” Sipenock Fisher told Retail Brew. “It was a really crucial moment to just reconfirm, especially in a moment of uncertainty and change to say, ‘Oh no…we’re staying the course,’ especially as those [others] are rolling back.” Currently, DEI programs within the company guide practices such as hiring, resource groups, and employee development. The retailer also recently had a month-long partnership with nonprofit KultureCity on sensory accessibility and acceptance. It is additionally working on implementing new learnings focusing on essential tools to deal with microaggressions and culturally insensitive comments in the workplace. Read more on Retail Brew.—Jeena | 
