Amy Merli

Regeneration & Sustainability Specialist LUSH

I began my career as a professional dancer, touring the US and Europe. Behind the scenes, I always enjoyed organizing people and systems to ensure the show ran smoothly. This passion for organization led me to freelance work as a production manager and rehearsal director for various productions, events, and festivals.

In 2011, I founded Trashion Fashion, an organization that combined my love of the arts with my passion for the planet. We promoted creative reuse as a way to reduce waste, producing events, art installations, and education programs with artists from around the world.

In 2015, I joined Lush Cosmetics as a shop manager, where I honed my leadership and organizational skills. I quickly became passionate about Lush's commitment to sustainability and was able to apply my skills to this field. I moved into a regional sustainability steward position and worked on various projects, including composting systems within stores and piloting an ethical flower program.

Currently, I serve as the Sustainability Coordinator for Lush North America's retail shops. In this role, I am responsible for developing and implementing sustainability programs and initiatives that align with Lush's values and goals. I am also responsible for educating our retail staff on sustainable practices to ensure we are meeting our sustainability targets and are aligned with our ethical charter.

Off the clock, I volunteer my time to support passing pro-environmental legislation. I had firsthand experience spearheading a Plastic Bag Ordinance for the City of Hartford, which became the foundation for the State-Wide Plastic Bag Ban. I love making a positive impact on the world and am always seeking out new opportunities to do so.

When I'm not working, I enjoy a good joke, eating healthy food, exploring new cities, discussing compost, and being a compassionate consumer.