How To Be Cruelty Free
California bans animal testing, but the law only goes so far
Cruelty-free products are products and ingredients that are not tested on animals. While this may seem most important to the vegans and vegetarians of the world, the market for cruelty-free products is expanding across the world. More than 30 countries, including European Union states, India, Israel, Norway and Switzerland have already implemented bans on animal-tested products. Other countries such as New Zealand, Guatemala and some states in Brazil have prohibited cosmetic animal-testing.
Animal testing is a vague idea that is not often clarified because it can seem self-explanatory. Most commonly, it includes skin and eye irritation tests for various cosmetics and grooming products or even force-feeding and “lethal-dose” tests on rabbits, rats, mice, guinea pigs even cats and dogs. These tests, though often deemed unreliable are cost-effective and, therefore, still carried on by some prominent brands according to PETA. Following the tests, a majority of these animals are actually killed according to the Humane Society.
California is the first state in the United States to outlaw the sale of products that have been tested on animals, penalizing offenders up to $5,000 and an additional $1,000 everyday the violations continues. This law was signed in 2018, but will not go into effect until January 2020. According to the Humane Society of the United States, “The law will end the sale of cosmetics like lipstick, deodorant and shampoo that contain ingredients that are newly tested on animals with a few exceptions for ingredients tested on animals for non-cosmetic purposes as required by certain regulatory agencies and for companies to comply with foreign testing requirements.”
“The law will end the sale of cosmetics like lipstick, deodorant and shampoo that contain ingredients that are newly tested on animals with a few exceptions for ingredients tested on animals for non-cosmetic purposes…”
Some wonder if this is really a win pointing to the many loopholes within the law. These products may still be sold in California so long as the animal testing occurs before January 1, 2020. Even then, companies can continue to sell animal-tested products in California if the country where they are produced requires animal testing. This testing may also continue to take place if no other form of testing can be conducted.
Some Whittier College students expressed their mixed feelings about this law being passed.
BryAnna Wertz, a fourth-year student, said, “I have always been a huge animal lover and never a huge fan of meat, so becoming a vegetarian was the logical choice.” About the animal-testing ban, she said, “On one hand the law is a huge step in the right direction but on the other hand I feel as though the law is still too relaxed and could be better with stricter restrictions.”
Maggie Keller is a second year at Whittier College who eats meat but tries to use as many cruelty-free products in her everyday beauty routine as possible and shops mainly cruelty-free brands. She believes the ban is a win for the animals and she hopes that in spite of big companies finding loopholes, people will still support more cruelty-free brands.
Malory Henry, a fourth year, initially became a vegan in order to live a more sustainable and ethical lifestyle but recently became a vegetarian because it is more realistic for her. She said the ban is well-intended and sets the right tone for the ethical tretment of animals, but acknowledges that “there are always exceptions. For example the plastic bag ban passed but you can still get plastic bags by paying the very small fee.”
“The plastic bag ban passed but you can still get plastic bags by paying the very small fee.”
It’s not surprising that California is the first state to legislate against animal cruelty in testing products given the significant vegetarianism of California citizens. According to HuffPost, metropolitan Los Angeles is 65 percent more likely to order vegetarian than the national average, ranking it as the sixth most veggie-friendly area in the country. The Bay Area came in third place and its denizes are 174 percent more likely to order vegetarian than the average American.
I’m not a vegetarian, but with so many vegan or vegetarian peers, I find myself taking the opportunity to only purchase cruelty-free products such as make up, face-wash and hair products. When asked how she incorporates vegetarian ideals into other aspects of her life, BryAnna Wertz said she makes cruelty-free a priority. “I’m very aware of the products I use and what goes into them,” Wertz said.
“I’m very aware of the products I use and what goes into them.”
It is a myth that animal testing is the way to ensure that beauty products are safe for humans. There are plenty of other options and over 7,000 ingredients already deemed safe for human skin and consumption that companies can choose from.
Many ingredients in cruelty-free or vegan products exclude parabens and harmful chemicals that are unnecessary for your body. According to Cruelty-Free Kitty, a website dedicated to cruelty-free and vegan products, these cruelty-free products also extend to household cleaning products, which in the case of laundry detergent also come into contact with your body.
In many situations it’s about being aware. It’s important to educate yourself about where your products and items come from and what went into producing them for your use. This ban on animal-tested products is doing some of the work for you, but that will only go so far until the large companies stop animal testing.
Prior to this law being passed, a group of well-known and smaller brands had already taken the cruelty-free initiative. These products are relatively cheap and easily accessible at stores such as Ulta, Target and Walgreens. Brands include: Elf cosmetics, NYX and Colourpop produce cosmetics, and Carol’s Daughter and Shea Moisture produce hair products.
Elf is cruelty-free, but not all its products are vegan. However, this brand is not sold in countries that allow animal-testing. The Whittier College Bookstore has a stand full of Elf cosmetics and most cost less than $10.
On the flip side, NYX is a certified cruelty-free brand and also do not sell its products where animal-testing occurs. But, it is owned by L’Oréal, based in China where it is legal to animal-test. Similarly, Carol’s Daughter and Shea Moisture are owned by parent companies that test on animals though these labels do not.
Cruelty-free or vegan products go beyond the beauty-product world and in some cases brands have been started by celebrities as an expression of their activism. Serena Williams has a 100-percent vegan clothing line and Jessica Alba founded the Honest Company specializing in baby products amongst other items. Kat Von D has a vegan shoe line and Rooney Mara started a vegan clothing line, Hiraeth, with her best friend.
While the ban on selling animal-tested products in California is a good first step, even with its loopholes, consumers can make changes in their own lives without waiting for legislation.
