Barefoot Vegan Mag Jan_Feb 2017

Challenging what we know about
cruelty-free cosmetics
By Anneka Svenska
O
n October 25 th 2016, Naturewatch
Foundation in collaboration with my
animal conservation production company,
GreenWorldTV, launched “Compassion Over Cruelty” –
a film to challenge what we know about cruelty-free
cosmetics.
Every year, millions of animals worldwide are
subjected to painful tests all in the name of beauty.
Chemicals are dropped in their eyes and on to their
skin, often causing painful blinding and burning. Once
used, their bodies are discarded like rubbish as more are
bred to take their place.
The British public is overwhelmingly against the use
of animals for cosmetic testing and indeed, in 1997 the
UK introduced the Cosmetic Testing Ban on the use of
animals to test finished cosmetic products, followed by
a ban in 1998 on the use of animals in testing cosmetic
ingredients. These history-changing laws paved the way
for the European Union, which in 2013 banned all sales
within the EU of cosmetic products or ingredients that
have been tested on animals.
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But this isn’t enough. Cosmetic shoppers in the UK are
still buying into cruelty by purchasing from companies
that sell products outside of the EU, in countries like
China where testing on cosmetic products is still a
requirement by law. By purchasing these brands, or
brands owned by parent companies that are tested in
China, shoppers – who are trying to do the right thing for
animals – are being duped. Compassionate shoppers are
unknowingly handing over their money for cruel animal
testing.
Many of these companies are big multinational labels,
or are selling prestige products and trying to crack the
Chinese market. They offer high-end products that are
perceived as being the best of the best, and they rely on
customer loyalty for their well-known brands. But it is
the animals who are paying the true cost. And it’s
completely unnecessary.
So I joined forces with Naturewatch Foundation to
put truly cruelty-free, compassionate, cosmetics to the
test. How would they hold up against the big players in
the cosmetic industry?
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