The rise of sustainable purchasing practices and eco-consciousness has forced us to reflect on how animals and animal by-products are incorporated into our everyday products. Even if you don’t identify as vegan, there is an ethical argument in favor of buying cruelty-free products. Do you know what “Cruelty-Free” is? Let’s take a look!

What is “Cruelty-free” – is it real or just marketing?

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is no definition of cruelty-free. There is no standard legal definition for the term, so brands are free to use the language as they wish. Generally, the aim is to appeal to conscientious consumers who are willing to spend more than those who are disregarding ethical issues. Cruelty-free products shouldn’t be confused with vegan products.

Companies use this label to imply that they aren’t involved in testing products on animals or harming them in any way. Unlike more specific language such as “not tested on animals”, “cruelty-free” doesn’t make a claim. Like “natural”, it’s one of those terms where government regulations haven’t caught up with marketing trends.

A common misunderstanding in the United States is that ingredients in cosmetics and beauty products must be tested on animals. According to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the FDA “doesn’t specifically require the use of animals in the safety testing of cosmetics”.

However, in mainland China, all cosmetics must be tested on animals. Some brands that claim to be cruelty-free changed their position to enter the Chinese market.

Since “cruelty-free” has no single legal or official specification, there are several meanings that various brands and organizations use interchangeably:

• The ingredients of the product have been tested on animals, but not the final product.
• The brand has contracted another company to do the testing.
• The brand or manufacturer relied on the test results of an external organization.
• The tests have been carried out in a country other than that of the brand (usually China, because it requires animal testing).
• The brand only uses animal testing when required by law as part of its expansion into foreign markets (usually China).
• At least one animal was harmed or killed and used for ingredients (meaning “animal products”), but there was no testing.
• The brand, or companies involved in its supply chain, have relied on the results of previous animal testing by other organizations, but haven’t themselves conducted any testing, harmed any animals, or sourced any animal products or by-products.
• Neither the ingredients nor the products have ever been tested on animals, and the companies involved haven’t harmed or slaughtered any animals.
• The brand is certified cruelty-free (not a legal standard, but provides a higher level of responsibility).

These last three definitions are the most ethical forms of cruelty-free production.

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Cruelty-free certification programs

If you want to find brands that meet the highest standards of being cruelty-free, try searching the Leaping Bunny database or Beauty Without Bunnies, PETA’s certification program and database of approved companies. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between these certifications. Both are legitimate, but one may seem to carry more weight than the other.

PETA

To obtain a cruelty-free certification from PETA, companies “must complete a brief questionnaire and sign a statement of assurance verifying that they don’t conduct, commission, or pay for any testing on animals for ingredients, formulations, or finished products and that they pledge not to do so in the future” so to certify brands is not as easy as the consumers might think.  If these brands want to display PETA’s cruelty-free rabbit logo, they have to pay a one-time licensing fee of $100.

PETA has great media power. If a company violates its statement of assurance and is denounced, it had better prepare for a public relations nightmare.

Leaping Bunny

Leaping Bunny logo isn’t as well known as PETA, but its certification program seems more comprehensive. In addition to what PETA stipulates in the statement of assurance it asks companies to sign, Leaping Bunny’s contract requires companies to implement a “Supplier Tracking System” and to allow for independent audits of their business. For those who want to check brands as they shop, Leaping Bunny has a cruelty-free app that can be downloaded for free.

And you? Do you choose cruelty-free 😉 ?