We’ve got good news that we would like to share with you. It concerns plant-based cosmetics whose popularity has been on the rise.
What is vegan cosmetics and how to recognise it?
Vegan cosmetics contain the fewest allergens while being extremely nourishing and nurturing. Ingredients originate from certified farms, plantations and makers. Vegan cosmetics support environmentally friendly production that employs more people than industrial factories. Products are often hand-made. Cosmetics with animal ingredients demand more and more factory farms where animals are bred in a different way than those for meat. There is enormous pressure on birth rate in order to produce more and more animals for slaughtering.
However, not every brand contains 100% plant-based ingredients. To make sure that a specific brand is truly vegan-friendly, watch out for ethical certificates on the label:
These are the most significant ones:
Products bearing the Vegan certificate have not been tested on animals and contain no animal ingredients. The certificate is granted by British organization Vegan Society and exists for both cosmetics and foodstuffs.
The V-Label is an internationally recognised, registered symbol for labelling vegan and vegetarian products and services. With the V-Label, companies promote transparency and clarity.
It is an unofficial label that is placed on products by producers themselves. It informs consumers that the products do not contain any ingredients whose acquisition would require a killing of an animal.
The only truly reliable certificate of non-testing is the internationally recognised Leaping Bunny that is awarded by the CCIC Cruelty-free organization. The standard offers a good system of controls and is available in two types – Humane Cosmetics Standard (HCS) and Humane Household Products Standard (HHPS). In Europe, it is used as the official sign of non-testing.
The cruelty-free certificate by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is granted to products that contain no animal ingredients and are not tested on animals. The organization, however, does not check adherence to the required conditions.
A list of cosmetic brands that do not test their products on animals can be found e.g. here.
For your convenience, we have provided a summary of cheerful statistics confirming the popularity of cosmetics not tested on animals:
- Vegan cosmetics launches increased by 175% from July 2013 to June 2018.
- Superdrug’s own brand vegan cosmetics saw a 750% sale increase in January 2019.
- The sale of vegan prestige beauty products in the UK reported an increase of 38% in the 12-month period between February 2017 to end of January 2018.
- Beauty brands with cruelty-free certification account for 20% of the women’s face skincare and grew by 18% compared to the overall category which grew by only 7% in 2018.
- 6% of beauty and personal care products launched in the UK in 2016 carried a vegan claim, up from 4% of products launched in 2012. 2.6% of beauty and personal care products launched globally in 2016 carried a vegan claim, up from 2.1% of products launched in 2012. Of all beauty products with a vegan claim launched in the UK in 2016, 31% were skincare products, 29% colour cosmetics, 23% hair products, 13% soap and bath products, 2% fragrances and 2% deodorants.
- A Market Research Future report predicts a 6% growth in cruelty-free cosmetics in the years between 2017-2023.
What is your favourite vegan brand? Please share with us :-)
Have a nice day!
Kind regards,
SINEA