Suave Now PETA-certified – Are They Truly Cruelty-Free?

Today, on February 12, 2020, Unilever announced that Suave is now PETA certified cruelty-free (source). What does that mean exactly? Does that mean that cruelty-free supporters can buy Suave products now? Or is it a similar tactic Dove, Herbal Essences, and Wet N Wild performed to enter the cruelty-free market under false pretenses?

As stated in a previous post here, sometimes a cruelty-free label can be misleading. Keep reading to find out if Suave is truly a cruelty-free brand now.

What Does the PETA Certification Mean?

To be qualified for a PETA certification, a brand must comply with the following (source):

“The brand must complete a short questionnaire and sign a statement of assurance.” – PETA.org

That’s it. It is a voluntary pledge that only requires a signature. PETA currently does not conduct audits being to confirm that brands are still abiding by their pledge. The PETA certifications also do not guarantee that brands don’t sell in markets that require animal testing 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, who requires animal testing by law (ie. Smashbox).

In the past, PETA has certified brands that are made and sold in China. PETA believes that brands have a way around animal testing if the products are made in China (Dove and Herbal Essences for example). However, this is not the case. Any brand sold in China, regardless of place of manufacture, is still subject to post-market animal testing. You can read more on China’s animal testing laws here.

Takeaway – Just because PETA certifies a brand, that does not mean it is 100% cruelty-free. A PETA-certified brand requires additional research.

DOES Suave SELL IN MARKETS That Require Animal testing by law?

Surprisingly, Suave is only accessible in the USA, Canada, and South America. After digging into this, I have zero evidence to believe Suave is in mainland China. Unilever’s China page does not list Suave as an available brand. On Unilever’s brand page, China is not on the list of countries that sell Suave.

Is Suave Cruelty-Free?

Yes, however….

This is the first PETA-certified, Unilever-owned brand that is PETA-certified and truly cruelty-free by not selling in China and trying to go through loopholes. ***However, Suave is still owned by Unilever, a parent company that tests on animals. If parent companies are important to you, Suave is not a 100% cruelty-free brand. On Free The Bunnies, in order for a brand to be 100% cruelty-free the parent company must also be cruelty-free. Otherwise, profits from the cruelty-free brand go to the cruel parent company. Therefore, Suave will not be added to the 100% Cruelty-Free Brands List.

With many brands becoming PETA certified that also sell in China, it is important to always check the details behind the brand’s claim. I am glad that while not 100% cruelty-free, Suave is not selling in China. Thank you for educating yourself on this topic when deciding whether or not to support Suave.

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XO,

Stephanie