The term cruelty free has been increasingly sought after in the packaging of products. They mean that these products are not tested on animals.
If you are one type of people who like to look at labels, you must have already found a product with this seal. Still, you must have wondered what the “cruelty free” meant along with the bunny. Cruty free products, especially cosmetics, are not tested on animals.
Therefore, when you buy a product with this seal, you are certainly avoiding the suffering of many laboratory animals. But can we really trust that these products are not actually tested on animals?
This type of initiative has been gaining strength among many companies in the market. But we cannot guarantee that the use of this stamp is not merely a marketing move. So we will explain everything about what is cruelty free and what products with the seal you will love.
What does the Cruelty Free seal mean?
By smearing this expression of English to the letter, we can say that cruelty free means “free of cruelty.” This term refers to the various tests that are currently still done on animals before they reach the final products for humans.
This guarantee of safety for our health has been used for a long time, but with current technologies, it is already possible to test products safely, and without mistreating the pets. Companies and brands that adopt this practice, ensure that their products, and their components, are not tested on animals.
This is because, in one way or another, animals suffer a lot during tests, and are even sacrificed in some cases. Therefore, the cruelty free movement seeks to end, as far as possible, with the testing of products on animals. Therefore, pets do not need to go through mistreatment so that we can use products safely.
What is a Cruelty Free product?
Cruledty free products are therefore those products that are not tested on animals. From the technologies, brands that use the seal test their products in other ways, without the exploitation of the animals. In fact, this involves ingredient suppliers too!
Therefore, if a company, which does not test in guinea pigs, buys inputs from another company that tests products in guinea pigs, the final product can no longer have the cruelty free seal. Then stay tuned! Many companies can use the seal incorrectly, look if you want to know if you really want to purchase an untested product on animals.
Do you know why the rabbit is the symbol of this movement? Rabbits are the main laboratory animals that suffer from the mistreatment of tests. Also, a video of a campaign promoted by Humane Society International (HSI) circulated on social networks, seeking to raise awareness among the global population about animal testing.
Ralph’s story shocked many people, and achieved its goal of impacting consumers. So if you are against this type of animal exploitation, you can now start looking for products with cruelty-free seal.
How are cruelty-free product tests done?
Products and brands that do not test on animals have many other ways to ensure safety and quality for customers. Among the main is the form of in vitro or in vivo tests, where volunteers are used humans.
In addition, it is currently possible to develop artificial tissues for testing. Therefore, skin, eyes, gums and other parts of the human body can be reproduced so that animal tests are not necessary. And yes, because of the similarity of such tissues, they have the same guarantee as testing on real skin, eyes and gums.
In fact, this type of skin tissue is widely used by tattoo artists to train the strokes before the original tattoo. In addition, there are also smart computer software that identify possible reactions in the human body and present solutions for this.
How do you know if a product is Cruelty Free?
Each country and region has its own laws regarding testing in laboratory animals. So it’s normal to be confused when choosing your cruelty free product. And, by the way, it is even good to doubt whether the marks with the seal are actually playing their part in avoiding the practices.
The struggle of this movement began several years ago and even in 2009 the European Union banned the practice and 4 years later eliminated the export of raw materials that use animal testing. In Brazil, some products are still necessarily tested on animals. So how do you make sure that a product is really cruelty-free?
In addition, many brands aiming at profit use the seal incorrectly. This is because, as already mentioned, they can even be free of tests in guinea pigs, but they receive ingredients from other companies that are not! Therefore, the recommendation is that you always research a lot before buying, and wonder if the brand you want is really cruelty free.
These companies, which try to deceive consumers, do so for lack of oversight and stricter laws that prevent the use of the seal incorrectly. So why don’t we charge explanations and better oversight for animal welfare? It is to think!
The main stamps of movement
You’ll probably find a diversity of stamps out there, and you’ll wonder: is this the real one? But calm down there we explain to you! All the seals found in the products are true (unless in one of the wrong cases we mentioned above).
What happens is that, in fact, there are several stamps because different companies, companies and NGOs take care of checking and evaluating the production and testing of the brands. This, however, does not mean that one is more valid than the other.
Therefore, know the more traditional stamps and by which company they are verified and reliable:
1. Leaping bunny
The first and oldest is certainly the jumping rabbit. This image is a partnership with Cruelty Free International, an organization that fights the test on animals that usually happens after the in vitro test. In addition, this seal ensures that the brand you use has gone through a strict evaluation process and that it follows the practice itself.
2. 2. Choose Cruelty Free
This stamp is from a company in Australia, and is more found in the products there. Still, it can be found all over the world due to the amount of exports and the growing trade, worldwide.
3. PETA approved
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is another international company that guarantees the cruelty-free test of animals. Its own seal guarantees an ethical commitment to the proof of products free of animal exploitation.
Cruelty Free X Vegan
Veganism is usually associated with the term cruelty free, but know that they are totally different! This is because veganism covers much more than just animal testing. So many are the differences between them. Check it out.
First, to understand what veganism is, we need to think about all forms of exploitation. Whether it is animal or human, the vegan movement fights against these exploitations that capitalism and the market commit against the freedom and autonomy of these beings. Therefore, it is clear that veganism is totally cruelty free.
However, the cruelty-free seal does not guarantee that products or brands do not finance the exploitation. This is because even if it is not tested on animals, a product can contain hair, skin, fat and many other animal ingredients in its composition. Therefore, these products are cruelty free but not vegan.
So, vegan products do not contain any type of animal ingredient, besides supporting cruelty-free practices. There is also confusion of these products with organic products. Understand: organic products are only those free of pesticides and chemicals, so they may not be vegan and cruelty free.
Why not trust Cruelty Free stamps
As we have already mentioned, being an untested product in animals and being a vegan product is completely different. Therefore, you should not rely on the seals that mix these two concepts. One brand can be yes, the two together. However, think with me: is a brand that uses skin, hair and animal fat in the composition of its products also not promoting cruelty?
Exploring animals as if they were products takes a little sense of not testing in the guinea pigs. This is because, just as the guinea pigs, animals suffer so that these substances are removed from their bodies. So it is very simple for brands to use the seal of not testing on animals, only for market marketing.
In addition, the brands themselves create stamps, which are not those of the supervisory organizations, which leads the consumer to err in his purchase. The sellers are, moreover, thinking more about their own profit than the suffering of the animals.
Brands that are NOT Cruelty Free
Know now, some brands that are not free of animal cruelty, even if they are entitled in this way. Among them are many popular and popular stores, so check out:
- Dove .
- Amend
- Dermage
- Magic Color
- D’agua Natural
- Ruby Rose
- the L’oreal Paris
- Jonshon
Despite this, some products of these brands can be considered cruelty free if the current law is still in force.
Brands that do not test in animas
On the other hand, there are many brands on the market that do not test on animals and are even vegan! Among them, it is the Brazilian company Skala, which is very successful mainly for its prices and affordable products.
So check which marks are released and which have the seals cruelty free:
- Skala (100% vegan)
- Vizzella (100% vegan)
- Dailus (has vegan options)
- Davene (has veganérrima options)
- Anasol Clinicals (100% vegan)
- Inoar (has vegan options, just a few)
- Salon Line (100% vegan)
- Soulpower (100% vegan)
- Sallve (100% vegan)
- Jeitô (100% vegan)
- AhoAloe (100% vegan)
- Twoone Onetwo (100% vegan)
Main products with Cruelty Free stamps
Have you thought about all the products you use on a daily basis? From soaps, to wash hands; pastes, to sanitize teeth; softener, for clothes, etc. Yeah, it is! All these products, especially those that we have direct contact, need to go through a series of tests before reaching us.
Therefore, inside the products that can be cruelty free are all already mentioned, and one more list, which also has the cleaning products, personal hygiene, chemicals such as paints and automobile items, fashion, clothing, and many others. However, the main products that still do animal testing are cosmetics.
Therefore, it is also much easier to find cosmetics that are Cruelty Free than the other types of products we mentioned. In addition, makeup, personal care, beauty and aesthetics are also other branches of the market that have the highest of products that are 100% free of animal cruelty.
The importance of using Cruelty Free products
Even if you do not use cruelty free products currently, it is very important that you consider swapping for animal cruelty-free brands. This is because, in addition to causing no suffering for animals, products not tested on animals guarantee the same quality as products with tests in guinea pigs.
Thus, technology is so advanced (thankfully!) that we can avoid the suffering of another species to favor our own. Because, can you imagine your pet going through such cruel and painful moments?
In addition, even if you are not vegan, you can also opt for products of these lines and brands, as a way to support the freedom of animals. This will also drive for more brands to offer products without any type of exploitation.
Very interesting, isn’t it? How about starting to make a difference and support these causes from now on? Comment to people what you already do to help the cruelty-free movement!
Oh, I bet you’ll also want to know more about vegan makeup — learn more about sustainable beauty.
Sources: Use BOB, Relax, Dauher, Uau Box, Ari vegan
Featured image: Cosmetology of good
Images: Grazia Magazine, Hair, Om the skin, Redis Diary, Ethical Pixie, Simple Organic, The vegan warehouse, Cacheia, Redhead’s Diary, All things hair, Talk Science
