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| look out for these logo's |
The label 'cruelty-free' is often used as a marketing tool & unfortunately there are no legal regulations to support what should be an ethical stance. This means that whilst one company claims that their products are cruelty-free because there has been no animal testing at any stage of production, on the contrary, another brand can claim that their products are cruelty free, purely because the final product has not been tested on animals. This is why it's important not to take 'not tested on animal' claims at face value. Many third parties offer this information, but I feel more comfortable contacting a company directly. In order to determine whether or not a brand is truly cruelty free, there are a number of questions which ought to be considered.
❀ Is the finished product tested on animals on behalf of the brand, the parent company, or an affiliate company or third party?
❀ Is the product tested on animals during production on behalf of the brand, the parent company, or an affiliate company or third party?
❀ Are the ingredients used within the product tested on animals on behalf of the brand, a parent company, or an affiliate company or third party?
❀ Does the brand; a parent company, or an affiliate company or third party sell the brands products in any region/country where animal testing is required by local laws or regulations?
What does cruelty-free mean?
It is generally recognised that a product is cruelty-free if it...
It is generally recognised that a product is cruelty-free if it...
Has not have been tested on animals
Does not contain ingredients that were tested on animals
Only contains vegetarian ingredients - this is subjective
Common Myths Regarding Animal Testing
[MYTH] A product labelled"Cruelty-Free" or displaying a bunny on it, has not been tested on animals.
[TRUTH] This is something to be hesitant of. A product can be labeled as 'cruelty-free' or not tested on animals if the finished product has not been tested on animals. It does not take into the consideration that at any stage of production individual ingredients may have been tested on animals.
The majority of animal testing occurs at the ingredients stage of production. A company can legally claim that they do not test on animals, if they themselves do not. However, the company may contract a third party to do the testing on their behalf - or the third party may do so without the brands consent.
[TRUTH] This is something to be hesitant of. A product can be labeled as 'cruelty-free' or not tested on animals if the finished product has not been tested on animals. It does not take into the consideration that at any stage of production individual ingredients may have been tested on animals.
The majority of animal testing occurs at the ingredients stage of production. A company can legally claim that they do not test on animals, if they themselves do not. However, the company may contract a third party to do the testing on their behalf - or the third party may do so without the brands consent.
For a product to be truly cruelty-free there must have been NO animal testing during any phase of product development by the company; its laboratories, or ingredient suppliers.
[MYTH] A product labelled as 'Vegan' is cruelty free.
[TRUTH] A product may contain no animal ingredients, however, the final ingredients/final product may have been tested on animals. The Vegan society claim they don't endorse companies but individual vegan-suitalble products.
Animal Friendly Shopping Tips
❀ Search using buzzwords - cruelty free, not tested on animals, vegan, ethical
❀ Do your research & if you're not sure, contact the company directly
❀ Check the ingredients of a product
❀ Avoid the giants of the animal testing world - P&G, Unilever, L'Oreal, Estee Lauder
❀ Look for the Leaping Bunny
❀ Don't take 'not tested on animals claims' at face value
❀ Join the online cruelty free community - #cfbloggers
❀ Download the 'Is It Vegan' app - for a list of ingredients with an explanation
❀ Shop around - it can be quite an exciting venture
❀ Don't give up - remember why you wanted to make the change
Be the change that you wish to see in the world...
Mahatma GandhiUseful resources:
❀ PETA
❀ Leaping Bunny
❀ Cruelty Free International
❀ Fighting Animal Testing
❀ The Humane Society
I probably should be more aware than I am in all honesty.
ReplyDeletewww.beautykinguk.co.uk
Really good tips on what to look out for it can be really misleading
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSome of the information can be very misleading. Thank you for making it clearer xx
ReplyDeleteYears ago there was a lot of awareness raised around animal testing but unfortunately you don't really hear if its still going on so you kind of forget about it. If it does still happen it certainly should be highlighted again. Some great info x
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot to learn. I know what to look for generally, but thanks
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteFabulous post, this is really important to me, so I always check very carefully.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that they can label it cruelty free yet actually have tested parts of it on animals, this is so mis leading
ReplyDeleteThankyou for sharing hun, need to make more of a conscious effort. x
ReplyDeleteGood to know. Can't believe there aren't more strict rules about this!
ReplyDeleteAww i find it horrible a cruel. We have a little pet rabbit and whenever I see stories on the tele on animal testing it's always rabbits which upsets me so much :(
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this, more people definitely need to be made aware x x
ReplyDeleteoh this is a brilliant post, thank you x
ReplyDeleteI try to look at the labels, but sometimes I feel like there simply is no choice :-(
ReplyDeleteThank you for this. I didn't know about the hashtag - will look out for it. x
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