Herbal Essences Became PETA-Certified, But Are They Really Cruelty-Free?

Today, on February 21, 2019, Herbal Essences announced that the brand is now cruelty-free certified by PETA, but what does that mean exactly? Does that mean that cruelty-free supporters can go out and buy Herbal Essences products now, or is it a similar tactic Dove performed to enter the cruelty-free market under false pretenses?

Some of you may be thinking that Herbal Essences (HE) is truly cruelty-free now, but as stated in a previous post here, sometimes a cruelty-free label can be misleading. So, is Herbal Essences truly a cruelty-free brand now? Keep reading to find out.

To be qualified for a PETA cruelty-free certification, a brand must comply with the following:

“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

That’s it. It is a voluntary pledge that only requires a signature. There are currently no audits being conducted by PETA to confirm that brands are still abiding by their pledge. The PETA certifications also do not guarantee that brands are not selling in markets where animal testing is required by law. There are many PETA certified brands who either a) still have suppliers who test on animals (ie. Rusk) or b) sell in China where animal testing is required by law (ie. Smashbox).

Does Herbal Essences sell in markets where animal testing is required by law?

Yes, HE still sells in China and will continue to do so, where animal testing is required by law. This means that HE allows their products to be subject to post-market animal testing. HE will tell you that because their products are made in China, that they are not required to be tested on animals, which is true. HOWEVER, all products are still SUBJECT to post-market animal testing, which is what they won’t tell you.

Is HE owned by a parent company that tests on animals?

Yes. HE is owned by P&G, a corporation that is still testing on animals.

So, is HE really cruelty-free?

No. HE is not 100% cruelty-free.

It is important to always check the details behind a brand’s cruelty-free claims, even if they are PETA-certified. With the cruelty-free movement growing rapidly, brands are finding every way they can to dip into the cruelty-free market, and sometimes a “cruelty-free” claim can unfortunately be a marketing scheme.

Thank you for educating yourself on this topic when deciding whether or not to support HE. What are your thoughts on this issue? Let me know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook, as well as subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest cruelty-free news and Free The Bunnies updates.

XO,

Stephanie

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