What Does Cruelty-Free Really Mean?

You’ve probably heard the phrase “cruelty-free” a lot. In a well-known protest, in a conversation with friends, at an activist event, in a social media video, or even in brand communication. But have you ever considered what it really means?

Cruelty-free is a movement that opposes animal torture in experiments, hence the name. It primarily refers to Beauty and Personal Hygiene products, as well as Home Cleaning products, that are not manufactured using animal experiments.

What exactly is the animal experiment?

Essentially, any test or experiment in which a live animal is forced to do something that will cause suffering, pain, or harm in the short and long term.

Animal experiments include injecting toxic substances, exposing animals to radiation and toxic gases, force-feeding, deliberately stressing, genetic modification, and other methods.

What exactly are laboratory animals?

Laboratory animals are frequently bred for experimentation. Rats, mice, rabbits, fish, and birds are the most common.

They are not considered animals under experiment regulations in some countries, such as the United States, which means that no laws protect them. Wild monkeys are frequently captured for the same purpose; while this is illegal in Europe, it is not in other parts of the world.

Cows, sheep, horses, and pigs are among the animals tested. Domestic animals, such as cats and dogs, are subject to different regulations in different countries.

What can you do to help the movement?

If you’re still reading this, it’s because you, like us, can’t stand what’s going on with laboratory animals right now. Although it may appear that you have no control over the situation, this is not the case. What we can all do is demand that companies stop engaging in these practices. How? Choosing non-cruelty products.

There are international organizations that endorse and certify brands and products that do not involve animal cruelty in their manufacturing process. Two of the most well-known certifications are Cruelty Free International and PETA Cruelty Free. Both are backed up by agreements signed with the companies to ensure that their processes are cruelty-free.

PETA Cruelty Free has public support as well, because the certifications it provides are very transparent. Cruelty Free International, on the other hand, requires affiliated companies to have an internal monitoring system in place throughout the production process. Furthermore, they conduct independent audits to ensure that no animal experimentation occurs.