Certified By PETA, But What Does That Mean? -

I know this is going to be a little controversial, as a lot of people go to PETA as the main place to read up on the treatment of animals and how to go cruelty free…. But there is a big BUT and we will delve into that here, as it’s something I do get asked alot when I am sharing about brands that still test on animals.

Certified by PETA, but what does that mean exactly?

Does the PETA certification mean that cruelty free shoppers can go out and buy Dove, Herbal Essences or even Wet n Wild products now? Are they truly cruelty free?

Some of you may be thinking that PETA certified brands are truly cruelty free now, but as stated in my recent post here, sometimes a cruelty free label can be a little misleading to consumers.

What might surprise you is, saying a the term “cruelty free” or plastering a cruelty free/not tested on animals logo on a product isn’t regulated which can mean alot of brands slip under the radar and almost ‘catfish’ people into believing being that are cruelty free or they use extremely vague or confusing statements on their website regarding their cruelty free status.

This is directly from the MAC website and if you follow the cruelty free lifestyle you will know that MAC are NOT CRUELTY FREE and have never been. Gives me the ick.

M·A·C does not test on animals. We do not own any animal testing facilities and we never ask others to test on animals for us. While some governments conduct animal testing to prove safety before they will allow us to sell our products, M·A·C has never tested on animals and we continue to be a leader in the movement to end animal testing globally. To this end, we are proud to partner with IIVS (INSTITUTE FOR IN VITRO SCIENCES) to expand the use and acceptance of non-animal testing methods worldwide.

To qualify for a PETA cruelty free certification, a brand must pay a one off licence fee and agree to comply with the following pledge:

“The brand must pledge not to test on animals anywhere in production. The brand’s ingredient suppliers must pledge to the same statement.” – PETA.org

I also found this answer on their FAQ section, which states it relies on trust from the brand to comply with their cruelty free pledge, which is interesting.

How do I know that companies on the cruelty-free list really don’t test on animals?

To a degree, PETA’s “statement of assurance” is a matter of trust. However, the integrity of a company is on the line. A company that has publicly announced an end to its animal testing and has stated in writing that it does not test on animals would face a public relations disaster—and potential lawsuits—if its policies were being misrepresented. Business owners are well aware that consumers are serious about the issue of animal testing, and they know that they would ruin the public’s confidence in their products if it were discovered that they were being dishonest about their policies. Source; PETA’s Website FAQ Section

So that is literally it, no in depth certification process like Leaping Bunny, which is rigerous and can take brands months to achieve. It is simply a voluntary pledge that only requires a signature and licence fee. There are absolutely no investigations being conducted by PETA to confirm that brands still abide by their pledge. As an organisation which is suppose to put animal’s interests at heart this doesn’t seem good enough does it?

I also wanted to mention that the PETA certification does not guarantee that brands are not selling in markets where animal testing is required by law.

There are many PETA certified brands who either sell in China where animal testing is required by law (ie. Wet n Wild, Herbal Essences). So please do not trust this list, check out the brands website and if it seems ambiguous or too good to be true (MAC IM LOOKING AT YOU!) then it usually is.

I’m not saying DO NOT trust PETA and of course if you are starting your cruelty free journey PETA certified products are a great place to start, but just bear in mind that the certification process isn’t so in depth.

Some recommended Leaping Bunny Certified beauty brands

Check out my list of Cruelty Free brands, which have been verified and checked as truly cruelty free. I am currently adding 100% Vegan brands to this list too.

You can also check out Leaping Bunny compassionate shopping guide, which has a huge list of certified brands for all categories and use their new app to check products on the go.

latest posts

Thank you for reading! Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest for the latest cruelty-free beauty updates!

P.S If You Like This Blog Post, You Might Like My Other Makeup Skincare , Haircare And Lifestyle Reviews. Please Contact Me To Let Me Know If There Are Any Products You Would Like To See Me Review.

**FRIENDLY REMINDER: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS THAT HELP OUT A LOT IF YOU CHOOSE TO PURCHASE FROM THEM (IT DOESN’T COST YOU ANYTHING EXTRA). I WILL ALWAYS TELL THE 100% TRUTH.

Milky pink lip combo. HELLO! 🥛🌸💕💓 absolutely in lo