Here are some of the things that I learnt during my 4 years in this cruelty-free journey.
1. “Cruelty-free” is a term coined for labeling products and chemicals that haven’t been tested on animals for at least the last 5 years
While science evolved in many aspects with the help of new technologies and methods, many scientists in the food, beauty, home hygiene and petfood industry are still using the primitive method of research that has been around since Roman history (2nd century) commonly known as animal testing, in vivo testing or vivisection.
2. Even common pets like cats and dogs are used in such experiments
Animal testing is not only performed on mice, rabbits, chimpanzees and frogs. Cats and dogs have been used to test the toxicity in pet food, food and cigarettes.
3. Animal testing is most of the time useless
One of the main reasons why animal testing needs to be stopped is that its harmful to animals. Another reason is that 9 out of 10 tests that pass animal testing, fail human testing.
4. Beauty brands such as Avon, Revlon, MAC and Estée Lauder have restarted paying for animal testing
In Asian countries such as China, animal testing is required by law. This resulted in companies such as Avon, who were pioneers in using animal friendly testing methods but later accepted to sell in these countries, to be no longer considered as cruelty-free.
5. Some brands mark their product as “not tested on animals” on their label
When you shop for products check if the product has a “not tested on animals” or “cruelty-free” sign. However don’t stop there, do Google them in cruelty-free lists, as they might from brands such as the ones mentioned in fact no.4 but still using old packaging.
6. Finding cruelty-free brands is hard but not impossible
International welfare organisations such as PETA and Leaping Bunny provide a list of brands that do test on animals and another list of brands that do not test on animals. However not every brand can be found in these lists.
7. CrueltyFreeMalta.com’s Shopping Guide provides a list of cruelty-free brands found in Malta
Most of the brands found in the PETA and Leaping Bunny list are not yet found in Malta, and most of the brands found in Malta are not found in these list. Therefore, we are in the process of creating a list where we gather every cruelty-free brand found in Malta in one place.
Before listing a brand on CrueltyFreeMalta.com, a research is done to verify whether the brand is really not tested on animal. This verification is not only based on the brand’s official confirmation but also on other reliable sources such as animal welfare organisations websites. To make sure we stick 100% to what we believe in, in the case where there is a contradiction among the sources, the products from such brand are refused from being listed on CrueltyFreeMalta.com