Unilever announces that global men’s fragrance brand Ax (sold as Lynx in the UK) is its latest brand to join People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)’s ‘Beauty Without Bunnies’ programme. did. As detailed in Unilever’s press announcement, “this certification means Ax joins more than 20 Unilever brands,” and the program states that “Ax does not carry out any animal testing on raw materials or finished products.” The brand undertakes to: To do so in the future. ”
To learn more about the Beauty Without Bunnies program and the impact the anti-animal cruelty movement has had on cosmetics and personal care product manufacturers, suppliers, and beauty brands, we spoke with Kathy Guillermo, PETA’s senior vice president of laboratory research. I listened and asked for insight. .
About PETA and the Beauty Without Bunnies Program
Guillermo first joined PETA in 1989, when there were only 12 companies on PETA’s list of companies prohibited from animal testing. Since then, she said, through a combination of her consumer education and consumer activism, that number has now grown to more than 6,000 companies across the cosmetics and personal care products industry.
PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program (formerly known as the Compassionate Consumer Campaign) states that “companies and brands must ensure that they and their suppliers conduct or commission animal testing on ingredients, formulations, or finished products. According to PETA’s website, they have verified that they have not, paid, or authorized them anywhere in the world, and will never do so in the future.
The program “gives companies a way to show millions of consumers what the policies of cosmetics and personal care companies are,” Guillermo explained. To participate in the program, companies must sign a document stating the above, and that they must ensure that the raw materials they purchase are not tested on animals or that all suppliers are not tested on animals. There must be a signed agreement,” she added.
As detailed on PETA’s website, “It’s completely free to become certified…and once approved, your company will be certified as one of PETA’s global ‘cruelty-free’ or ‘cruelty-free and vegan’ You can choose to use the logo.
Beauty without Unilever, Ax and Bunny
For Unilever and Ax, participating in the Beauty Without Bunnies program means that the AX team has signed agreements with all suppliers to ensure that they do not sell products that require animal testing in China, where many products require animal testing. It means “confirmed”. It’s an animal,” Guillermo said.
Dr. Julia Fuentem, Unilever’s global head of safety, environment and regulatory science, added in the company’s press release: Leaders and global stakeholders in non-animal safety science. ”
She further explained in the release: “We believe that by using non-animal approaches to ensure the safety of ingredients and products, we can better protect people and the environment. And we support the elimination of animal testing around the world.” We will continue to uphold this commitment.”
Guillermo added that participation in PETA’s anti-animal testing program by global beauty and personal care product companies like Unilever is essential for multiple reasons. First and “most importantly,” she explained, “this policy protects animals from poisoning, suffering and death.”
Furthermore, Unilever’s commitment means that if the largest global brand selling around the world commits to completely zero animal testing, every other company can and should do the same. “It also shows,” she continued.
That’s why “We’re so happy to welcome AX to our Bunny-Free Beauty list and appreciate Unilever’s commitment to eliminating animal testing everywhere,” she said. .
Impact on consumers and the future of the anti-animal testing movement
The impact of consumer demand for cosmetics and personal care product options that are not tested on animals continues to grow, and “since 1988, when PETA released undercover footage from a product testing laboratory, actions have been key to this entire effort,” Guillermo said. . Now, “companies are so aware and concerned about consumer demand for products that are not tested on animals that they are seeking listing on PETA and using our logo.” she explained.
For example, she says, “some brands, such as Herbal Essences, even put their logo on the front of their products so that consumers can see at a glance that the company’s policy is to never test on animals.” He explained. Ax plans to follow suit, with “PETA’s logo starting to appear on Ax products next year,” a Unilever release confirmed.
Going forward, PETA plans to further grow the Beauty Without Bunnies program and the anti-animal testing movement in the cosmetics and personal care products industry, focusing on the organization’s biggest challenges. “We conduct animal testing and believe that the European Union’s requirements for animal testing under the REACH regulation are in violation of the Cosmetics Regulation,” Guillermo said.
“We will continue to address these issues, which are the biggest obstacles to ending all animal testing in cosmetics,” she explained, adding, “Companies are working together to ensure that this technology can replace animals.” “Now we need regulators to catch up.”
