Naked Butts. Noon. Tomorrow.

Last year, LUSH Cosmetics–an international brand known for its consciousness-raising business practices and 100% vegetarian product line–began their nudity campaign, wherein employees at a handful of their stores voluntarily spent part of the day wearing naught but aprons emblazoned with “Ask Me Why I’m Naked” to promote the production and consumption of “naked” products, meaning packaging-free. The company, according to media spokesperson Brandi Halls, produces 60 percent of its products without any packaging (think shampoo bars and chunks of soap), and the bottles and pots they do use for liquid products are 100 percent recycled/recyclable. But Halls insists the protest/event is not necessarily meant to bring more attention to LUSH products, but to educate business owners and consumers alike of the environmental impact of excessive packaging. (Halls gives the example of Trader Joes’ inexplicably shrink wrapped produce packages as an example.)

Tomorrow, the company is holding another protest, a much larger campaign than it originally began, with stores in 23 states across the company participating. And while last year some of the employees (literally) half-assed it by wearing underwear under their aprons, this year all participants are said to be baring bum. Stop by the Portland store (803 NW 23rd) for a glimpse and some education tomorrow at noon, but be snappy about it: the protest is only slated to last half an hour. And if even the idea isn’t centric to LUSH products, you may as well pop into the store as long as you are there to check out the sometimes-perplexing (“emotibombs” that create aromatherapeutic steams when you drop them on the floor during your shower, “shower jellies” that are like rubbing bricks of Jell-O on your body), sometimes-awesome (the bath/bubble bombs are generally great, and the selection is staggering), and sometimes-disappointing (I once tried a lip balm that actually made my lips worse) product line–the company has a lot of energy and ideas, and is one of the largest international beauty brands to dedicate itself to ethical business practices.

Sorry to get your hopes up–this was taken at the protest in Berlin. The aprons to be worn by the locals tomorrow are said to be more demure. Protest that.