You may have seen the bunny sign on the CYCLE packaging, which goes by the name Leaping Bunny. In our case - and in the case of many other companies and brands - this mark certifies that our products are cruelty free.
In this article, we will explain in more detail why this initiative is important, the motivations and objectives behind the trademark, and how you can identify and filter such products.
Where does the cruelty free initiative come from?
The term cruelty free itself was coined by animal rights activist Lady Dowding, who persuaded faux fur manufacturers to use the slogan "Beauty without cruelty" on their products. In 1959 he founded a charity under the same name to raise awareness of animal suffering in the fashion industry. Lady Dowding used her prominent position in society to promote animal welfare. She hosted regular Sunday lunch parties, where she introduced influential people to vegetarian food, and her house was a sanctuary for animals in need. He has also won several awards from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
However, other figures in history can also be associated with the expression and the will to do something for animals. Among others, Marcia Pearson promoted it in the United States and founded the group Fashion With Compassion in 1970.
But the roots of the 'cruelty-free' movement can be traced back to 1898 in the UK. Active to this day, Cruelty-Free International is an association founded by philanthropist and women's rights activist Frances Power-Cobbe. When Powe-Cobbe travelled throughout Europe and experienced first-hand the mistreatment of animals, she launched her union, which continued to grow worldwide in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By 1940 the union had 154 sub-unions around the world. Its original name was The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, which was changed in 2015 to the now recognisable Cruelty-Free International now recognisable name.
With the development of the cruelty-free movement, a number of other credible organisations have been launched, which collectively aim to promote animal- and cruelty-free products and to fight against animal testing.
People have increasingly realised that testing on animals is not only cruel, but often not scientifically sound. The first country to introduce legislation against animal testing was the UK in 1998.
The details of the criteria for the different marks may vary from country to country between certification bodies. But in general, to be certified cruelty free, a company must completely exclude animal testing in the development and production of all its products. This includes testing of ingredients, raw materials and finished products. Companies that meet these criteria are eligible to use the cruelty free logo on their products.
The cruelty-free movement is therefore not only about protecting animal rights, but also reflects the growing demand for ethical and sustainable shopping. As more companies and consumers join the movement, it is hoped that animal testing in cosmetics and household products will become less and less common.
Why are animal rights important?
While there is always a huge debate surrounding this issue, it is worth knowing the facts and figures that can encourage consumers to stand up for animals.
More and more professional and credible sources are reporting that, like humans, animals experience emotional and physical pain. Animals in zoos often exhibit behaviours that show underlying psychological distress not seen in wild animals. Orcas, for example, can suffer from depression and boredom in aquariums, which is treated with the use of antidepressant medication. The more we learn about the myriad ways in which our behaviour, lifestyles and attitudes negatively affect animals, the greater our moral obligation to them will be.
But as well as the suffering that animals can suffer, the sheer scale of their exploitation is another reason why animal rights need to be protected. It is estimated that around 200 million animals are killed for human consumption every day, with wealthy nations such as Australia, the United States and Europe leading the way with the highest per capita meat consumption. The US is also responsible for the proliferation of factory farming, where animals endure a lifetime of heartbreaking abuse. The vast majority of animal testing is military and cosmetic, with only a small percentage being medical and various forms of recreational research.
The animals used in experiments include baboons, cats, cows, dogs, ferrets, fish, frogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, horses, llamas, mice, monkeys (e.g. marmots and macaques), owls, pigs, quails, rabbits, rats and sheep. After testing, these animals do not live a full life and usually die.
A wide range of availableatoManufacturers can experiment with many different types of devices, including mice.
What are the aims of the non-animal movement?
The ultimate goal of the animal rights movement is to put animals beyond the "use" of humans, ending exploitative industries and practices including laboratory testing, whaling and puppy mills.
There are several approaches to achieving these goals. Grassroots advocacy, including public demonstrations, documentaries and other educational tools have long been used to raise public awareness of animal suffering and to educate the public about animal rights.
We can also talk about innovative legal approaches. A Nonhuman Rights Project for example, is working to change the legal status of nonhuman animals from "property" to "personhood", with the aim of securing their right to bodily liberty (prohibition of imprisonment) and bodily integrity (prohibition of experimentation). A non-human person can be represented in court by a guardian ad litem who can fight for justice on his behalf.
Another way to achieve the aims of the animal rights movement is to promote veganism, a lifestyle that excludes the consumption of animal products - including milk, eggs and products derived from insects such as honey. Veganism also avoids animal-derived clothing such as leather, fur and silk. The widespread acceptance of their values reduces the demand for animal products, allowing a clearer path to the acceptance of animal rights.
In addition, the production and purchase of cruelty-free products can be more environmentally sustainable. Manufacturing processes without experimentation are often more efficient and sustainable, which has a positive impact on the environment. Companies that are committed to cruelty-free principles often also look for animal-friendly and sustainable ingredients, thereby reducing their environmental footprint.
Buying cruelty-free products therefore also brings many benefits for consumers. Firstly, it gives them the opportunity to make ethical and responsible choices in their everyday purchases. On the other hand, by choosing cruelty-free products, you are consciously supporting companies that are committed to animal rights and sustainability.
How are these products tested, if not on animals?
Companies that do not "greenwash" their products can use other, safer options instead of animal testing. This could include anything from researching well-established scientific literature and studies to safety testing of raw materials to controlled human use.
According to Cruelty Free International, alternatives to animal testing include cell cultures, human tissues, computer models and even human volunteers. Cell cultures allow scientists to grow human or animal cells in the laboratory to create a smaller, 3D version of human organs, known as organs-on-chip. This method is particularly useful in the field of medicine, as cell cultures have helped scientists to better understand diseases such as cancers, AIDS and others. These cultures have also proved to be key in chemical safety studies.
Scientists can also perform tests on human tissue - without the need for a live human volunteer. Human volunteers can donate their healthy or unhealthy tissue and scientists can use it to better understand diseases. Human tissues can be donated by living people - who have had surgery, biopsies or transplants - or by people who have died. Both are a more humane alternative to animal testing.
Scientists can also learn a lot by using computer models programmed to model the reactions of the human body. By mapping major organs such as the heart and lungs, scientists can perform virtual experiments based on existing information and mathematical data.
Finally, of course, we can also use human volunteers to avoid animal testing. Various types of technology can be used to measure and observe how the human body reacts to certain treatments and drugs. If more human volunteers volunteered for testing, fewer animals would be killed or harmed each year.
How do I know the product is cruelty free?
There are many different methods to help determine whether or not a product is free of animal testing. Here are some useful tips on where and how to check:
Logos and inscriptions on the packaging
Most cruelty-free products are labelled with the appropriate symbol on the packaging. Look for logos such as "Cruelty Free", "Not Tested on Animals", or "Leaping Bunny" on labels with ingredients or information. These labels are usually easy to recognise, usually depicting a bunny. This is a good way to make sure that the product is free of animal testing.
Labels of the three main non-animal testing organisations
Source : https://sustainableshopper.com.au/2015/08/25/cruelty-free-logos/
Online databases and applications
Several online databases and apps are now available that list cruelty-free brands and products. A Leaping Bunny website or the "Bunny Free" app you can quickly check a product at any time.
Certification bodies' websites
Organisations that promote animal rights and certify cruelty-free products often have online databases and guides to companies that are cruelty-free. For more information PETA or the Cruelty Free International for more information.
Companies' contact pages
If you are unsure about the cruelty-free certification of a product, you can check the official website of the organisation for information or even contact them. These companies are often open to questions from consumers and are happy to share their cruelty-free policies.
Customer reviews, forums
Online customer reviews and forums can also be useful resources. Many consumers share their experiences with cruelty-free products, which helps you to make sure that a particular product meets your expectations.
What brands are distinguished today?
cruelty-free regulations have come a long way since the 19th and 20th centuries, and there are now several types of certification. We would now like to present three main trademarks:
Beauty Without Bunnies
A Beauty Without Bunnies a PETA animal welfare organization's cruelty-free certification project. The organization is based in the United States, but any company from any country can join the project if they meet the criteria.
The logo is easily recognisable, showing a bunny face with big pink ears. You can find other variations, but most of them feature this design.
Leaping Bunny
Next up is the Leaping Bunny. This is the logo of the organisation Cruelty-Free International, mentioned above. They are a worldwide organization.
You'll recognise the Leaping Bunny mark, which also appears on our packaging, from a jumping bunny. You've probably seen this logo on many cosmetic products, as it's considered the number one crueltyfree trademark.
Choose Cruelty Free
Finally, there is the Choose Cruelty Free logo. This certification body operates exclusively in Australia and only deals with companies that sell products into the Australian market.
The logo is a silhouette of a bunny with the words "Not tested on animals" in bold letters below.
A cruelty free logo or label helps consumers to choose products that are free from animal testing. Thus, this indication on the packaging is a form of information to help consumers make an informed choice.
Are vegan products free of animal testing?
Finally, it is worth dispelling a misconception that vegan products are also free from animal testing.
The term cruelty free refers to products that have not been tested on animals, while vegan products refer to products that do not contain ingredients of animal origin. It is possible that a product with a cruelty free label may still contain non-vegan ingredients such as milk protein, beeswax, carmine, collagen, gelatine or lanolin.
If you want to use only vegan and crueltyfree products, look for products with both on the label. And to be on the safe side, check the ingredients for the non-vegan ingredients mentioned above.
More about this on veganinja.hu, here here.
CYCLE and cruelty free
We were the first in Hungary to win the Leaping Bunny trademark in the household products category. This internationally recognised standard has been registered since 24 September 2020 on all our products in a clearly visible place on all our products. So you can be sure that you're not only using a toxin-free cleaner, but also an cruelty-free one.
Thanks to our chemical-free productsall pets can spend their days happily in our home.
This certification is not just a label on our products: with our cleaning products, we want to create a community that cares about our planet and the creatures that live on it. The fight against animal testing is becoming more and more part of consumer awareness, and we are proud to help our customers. At the same time, we want to not only emphasise our ethical principles, but also provide inspiration for other local brands.
To read more about how we got this mark, click here.
Sources used for this article:
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/animals-used-experiments-faq#many
https://faunalytics.org/the-animal-rights-movement-history-and-facts-about-animal-rights/
https://prove.hu/allatkiserletek-cruelty-free-termekek/
https://prove.hu/hogyan-tesztelik-a-cruelty-free-termekeket/
