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How can I make sure a product is truly vegan?
Hi everyone,
I run an online store that sells skincare and personal care products. I’m planning to expand my product line with items that are cruelty-free and vegan.
However, I’ve heard that many brands falsely claim their products are vegan or not tested on animals. Is there a reliable way to verify these claims and make sure the products I offer are truly cruelty-free and vegan? Any tips or resources would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
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6 Replies
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Hi,
Regarding “vegan”, you should find details on the technical documents of your ingredients: usually they will say “vegan certified”.
Regarding the big BS of “cruelty-free”, you should read this (other sources available if one really wants to know) https://chemistscorner.com/cruelty-free-cosmetics-are-they-really-free-from-cruelty/
chemistscorner.com
Cruelty Free Cosmetics - Are they really free from cruelty? - Chemists Corner
Hello and welcome to Hot Topics from Chemists Corner, the show where I pick some topic about the cosmetic industry that caught my eye and…
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Thanks for sharing this. I read the post and found it interesting — definitely made me think more critically about the “cruelty-free” claim. I agree now that it can be misleading, and it confirms what I had already heard.
That said, I noticed the article didn’t really offer any concrete solutions or ways to verify whether a product is truly cruelty-free or vegan. It’s still useful context, but as someone trying to stock ethically sourced products, I was hoping for more actionable guidance.
Maybe the safest route for now is to stick to EU-based brands, since animal testing has been banned there since 2013 and compliance is better enforced.
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The thing is that MOST of the functional ingredients (actives, preservatives, sunscreens, etc) we are using today (and most of the essential oils for that matter) have been deemed safe AFTER were tested in labs (on mice, rats, rabbits…)=> they’re NOT “cruelty-free”.
As for the natural things, let’s take for example Amazonian/African butters/oils: are you 100% sure that none of the fauna or flora members were affected by the harvesting process (nuts or fruits or whatever)? As in they could find the same amount of food and shelter as before the “natural” trend/madness started?
My point is “cruelty-free” is a lie in most circumstances, whereas “product not tested on animals” is more accurate, if indeed only clinical trials on humans were performed.
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Excellent points. Products themselves may not have been tested on animals but as you said it’s hard to think safety of each ingredient was established without some animal testing - or perhaps safety hasn’t been established.
If you want to chase this claim, look for products from folks who have the cover of cruelty-free certifications. Saves time and you’ll have deniability
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You saw my thoughts on “cruelty free” and why I think that is a dubious claim. Similarly, “vegan” can be dubious because plant based ingredients can be contaminated with bits of insects killed while harvesting the ingredients.
But as a marketer, you can only do so much. Anyone can claim anything is “cruelty free” or “vegan” as long as they feel confident they can defend themselves in court if they are sued over it.
As for solutions. Unless you are going to come up with your own definition of what cruelty free or vegan means (I don’t recommend this), you are going to have to look to some unofficial certifying bodies who have already come up with these definitions. For vegan you can use…
Examples of Vegan Certifications
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BeVeg Vegan Certification:
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Covers cosmetics, makeup, skincare, and toiletries.
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Includes ingredient identification and factory audits to verify vegan claims
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EVE VEGAN® Certification:
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Guarantees no animal ingredients in products or packaging.
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Ensures no animal testing and supports organic vegan agriculture
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The Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark:
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Established in 1990, widely recognized globally.
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Found on over 70,000 products, including cosmetics
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VeganCert by Vegan Action:
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Certifies cosmetics free of animal ingredients and testing.
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Does not guarantee organic plant-based ingredients
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I personally don’t think these certification guarantee products are cruelty free however, you aren’t going to get sued by me if you make those claims. As long as you can point to some certifying body you could use that information as a defense in court if you do get sued.
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Natural. Vegan. Cruelty free. Fair trade. Handmade. Fragrance free….I could go on and on with how misleading these words are. Best to stay far away from these claims unless your client is hell bent on requiring this level of marketing.
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