After 30 years of encouraging “cruelty-free beauty,” we took the next step with a company-wide global policy prohibiting animal testing of any kind for any Dove product — a policy that extends to our suppliers.
It was an important decision, one we were more than happy to make and that got the attention of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) who’ve since accredited us as a “PETA Cruelty-Free” brand.
As of 2019, all Dove packaging will feature PETA’s cruelty-free logo — a guarantee that no animal was hurt or put in a position to be hurt in the development of any Dove product you buy.
“More than ever, people want and deserve clarity on what goes on in the making and composition of the products they love,” says Sophie Galvani, our global VP. “The PETA accreditation is part of that, as well as being an important step to inspire further action globally regarding ending animal testing across the personal care and beauty industry.”
The China Animal Testing Situation
As you may or may not know, the Chinese government requires animal testing of products not made in China before they’re released for purchase in China. While we disagree with the stance they’ve taken — and we’d be happy to show them why it’s unnecessary — we nonetheless respect their position. This is why we’ve stopped importing products into China that weren’t made there.
We’re well aware of the effect this decision could have on our bottom line in the long term. But weighed against the potential harm we would be condoning, the choice wasn’t much of a choice at all.
“PETA is delighted to certify Dove as cruelty-free,” said PETA senior vice president Kathy Guillermo. “We know consumers will appreciate the commitment by Dove to permanently end animal testing everywhere in the world. And while there is still much to be done to end animal testing, we hope today’s announcement will inspire other beauty brands and companies to follow suit.”
“Cruelty-Free Beauty” Starts at the Top
Unilever has demonstrated an unquestionable commitment to end animal testing, highlighted by a partnership with Humane Society International to support their #BeCrueltyFree initiative which funds the exploration of animal testing alternatives. Unilever’s been documenting their efforts on a website called Safety Science, which you can see here (opens in a new window). Some of the advances are incredible.
“We hope for regulatory acceptance of alternative approaches and the subsequent removal of any requirements for animal testing for cosmetics anywhere in the world,” said David Blanchard, Unilever Chief R&D Officer. “We are hopeful that it will soon be possible to assess the safety of all cosmetic products without any need for animal testing anywhere in the world.”
Beyond Products Certified Cruelty-Free by Peta
Our steadfast and complete commitment to the eradication of animal testing isn’t the only way we’re contributing to the betterment of our world. We’re exploring routes to offer vegan Dove products to cut down on our animal reliance overall. We’re at the forefront of demanding an industry-wide commitment to 100% physically certified palm oil by the end of 2019 to prevent the needless slaughter of between 1,000 and 5,000 orangutans a year. And we’re always finding ways to reduce our plastic usage.
But today, we’re celebrating our inclusion on PETA’s list of certified cruelty-free brands. It’s an acknowledgement of our broader commitment to the planet and we’re honoured to be in such distinguished company.
