Many of the brands featured on The Ethical Shopper hold trusted third-party certifications — but what do those certifications actually mean? Over the coming weeks, we’ll be spotlighting some of the certifications our vendors have earned and exploring how they help support vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainable shopping choices. Several of our vendors carry vegan and cruelty free certifications from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Here’s the scoop on what these certifications mean according to PETA’s website.*
Companies may be listed by PETA under one of two designations:
- Global animal test–free recognizes companies and brands that have verified that they and their suppliers do not conduct, commission, pay for, or allow any tests on animals for their ingredients, formulations, or finished products anywhere in the world and that they will never do so in the future. The list includes manufacturers of cosmetics, personal-care products, household cleaning products, and other common household items.
- Global animal test–free and vegan recognizes companies and brands that meet the same requirements as Global animal test–free and whose entire product line is also free of animal-derived ingredients. These companies are truly cruelty-free.
PETA’s Ultimate Cruelty-Free List is limiting its listings to companies that sell products in the countries from which the program is administered: the United States, Canada, Germany, and India.
Some consumers mistakenly believe that all cosmetics sold in the EU are animal test–free. This is not the case. While the EU enacted legislation banning tests on animals for cosmetics and cosmetics ingredients, there are loopholes in the law. Products tested on animals in other countries, such as China, may be sold in the EU if the animal test data from elsewhere are not used to verify the safety of the cosmetics in the EU. Additionally, some chemicals may be tested on animals for so-called environmental or worker safety reasons. PETA believes no animal should suffer and die for a new lipstick or soap, and they will not list or allow their logo to be used by companies or brands that have allowed tests on animals under these loopholes.
What Do ‘Animal Test–Free’ and ‘PETA-Approved’ Really Mean?
In order to be listed by PETA or carry the “Animal Test–Free” logo or the “PETA Approved Global Animal Test Policy” logo, companies and brands must commit never to conduct, commission, pay for, or allow tests on animals at any phase of development, for both ingredients and final products. They’re required to have agreements in place with their suppliers guaranteeing that the suppliers will never, from the moment the agreement is signed, conduct, commission, pay for, or allow tests on animals for the ingredients purchased by the company or brand.
While many ingredients used by all companies, including those authorized to use the PETA certification logos, may have been tested on animals in the past, that history can’t be changed. PETA’s logo recognizes companies that have committed to a strict ban on animal tests from the time they become “PETA Approved” and into the future.
So, that’s what PETA’s certifications mean. At The Ethical Shopper, we’re proud to partner with brands that have earned PETA certifications, demonstrating their commitment to vegan and cruelty-free standards. These certifications provide an added layer of assurance and transparency for compassionate shoppers.
However, it’s important to note that not every brand we carry is PETA certified—and that’s okay. The Ethical Shopper carefully vets every brand we offer to ensure it is 100% vegan and cruelty-free, regardless of whether it holds a specific third-party certification.
Our goal is to make vegan and cruelty free shopping simple, trustworthy, and accessible, so you can shop with confidence knowing that every brand on The Ethical Shopper website aligns with these core values.
*https://www.peta.org/lifestyle/personal-care-fashion/petas-ultimate-cruelty-free-list/
