Testing on animals is, quite deservedly, a subject that is
divisive and emotional. Heart-rending images have appeared in the media over
the years, for example of rabbits having chemicals dropped in their eyes, that
are hard to forget once seen.
You may have read recently about Unilever’s stance on animal
testing for cosmetics. Unilever is one of the world’s biggest consumer goods
companies, the home of major household brand names such as Dove, Radox,
Tresemme and Simple.
Unilever has called for a global ban on animal testing for cosmetics.
Being the company behind so many familiar products, throwing their weight
behind a global campaign that’s pushing for legislative reform to prohibit
animal testing in the beauty industry has received significant news coverage.
Just some of Unilever's familiar brands (©Unilever)
Testing cosmetics or their ingredients on animals has been
banned across the EU, including the UK, since 2013. However, many other countries
still do test on animals. This includes China, poised to become the world’s
largest cosmetic market, which does
require animal testing on many beauty goods. So the worldwide picture is not
quite so clear as it would seem, although positive steps are being made.
A useful website that’s worth checking out for those who
want to find out more about exactly which cosmetic products Unilever owns, and
which have ingredients that are
tested on animals is ethicalelephant.com.
It has a comprehensive (but not exhaustive) list of brands,
showing whether they are vegan, cruelty-free, owned by a parent company that
tests on animals, or are not cruelty-free.
As part of its recent announcement, Unilever revealed a new
partnership with HIS (Humane Society International) to try to accelerate the process.
It is to be commended for this positive step forward, and as Troy Seidle, HIS’s
vice president for research and toxicology says, they “…urge other large beauty
brands to follow this example and join us on the right side of history”.*
This announcement is no doubt part of a bigger story that will develop over the coming months and years. We’ll watch with interest and hope
that, ultimately, it continues to move towards a greater understanding and
compassion for all animals, (even us humans!) on a global scale.
*© Source the i newspaper 10 October 2018.
*© Source the i newspaper 10 October 2018.
