Last Updated on March 18, 2025

By now you’ve probably seen the cruelty-free label on some of your products. But what exactly does it mean? And how does it correlate to sustainability?

Many beauty items are labeled cruelty-free, such as cosmetics and skincare. But many other items can carry the label, such as shoes, clothing, accessories and cleaning supplies.

The cruelty-free label essentially means no animals were harmed in the making of said product, or ingredient. This is important for a multitude of reasons, one being the inhumane treatment of lab animals. Most animals in laboratories are not legally protected and are subjected to horrifically painful experiments, often without pain killers.

Additionally, animals used for lab testing contribute to pollution and biodiversity loss. Animals, the most common being monkeys, are often taken from their natural habitats and bred in captivity for lab usage. Alongside this, millions of animal bodies and bedding are disposed of each year, creating biological hazardous waste.

Unfortunately, up to 126.9 million non-human vertebrate animals on a global scale are bred, used, and disposed for animal testing. This leads to a slew of ethical and environmental concerns.

This is why it’s vital to look for brands that don’t test on animals whenever possible. There are several ways we can do this, like choosing to go vegan or plant-based, advocating for animal rights, and checking for cruelty-free certified products.

Here’s what you need to know about animal testing and why opting for brands that avoid this matters.

is cruelty-free same as vegan?

No, cruelty-free is not the same as vegan. Cruelty-free means the product was developed without any tests on animals, whereas vegan means the product does not include any animal-derived ingredients.

Ideally, a product will be both vegan and cruelty-free. However, just because it is vegan does not automatically make it cruelty-free, and vice versa.

So, for example, a plant-based lipstick derived from vegan ingredients can still be considered “not cruelty-free” if it was tested on animals. 

RELATED: The Best Vegan Shoes: 8 Brands Making Cruelty-Free Footwear

what is the legal definition of cruelty-free?

There is no legal definition of cruelty-free. The term can be used by any brand – so keep that in mind while shopping around for products. However, to ensure legitimacy, it’s best to look for certifications, like Leaping Bunny Certification. This ensures third party testing was involved.

In order to get Leaping Bunny certified, brands must:

• Adhere to a fixed cut-off date, an unalterable date after which neither the brand nor any of its suppliers and/or manufacturers may conduct, commission or be party to animal tests.

• Set up a Supplier Monitoring System to ensure all their suppliers and manufacturers comply with Leaping Bunny criteria.

• Be open to independent audits to ensure their Supplier Monitoring System adheres to the Leaping Bunny Standard.

• Renew their commitment to the Leaping Bunny Program annually.

is cruelty-free a good thing?

Yes, cruelty-free is a good thing, because it prevents unnecessary suffering and promotes more ethical testing of products.

In terms of its environmental impact, animal testing is resource-intensive, requiring substantial amounts of water, food, and shelter for the animals. The facilities housing lab animals consume energy up to ten times more than offices on a square meter basis.

There’s also the issue of chemical waste. A wide range of chemicals are used throughout animal testing for sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization. Toxic substances like irritants, neurotoxins and carcinogens are frequently used for extended periods of time in large amounts. These toxins can contaminate soil and water if not disposed of correctly.

When animal bodies are eventually discarded after use, they are often incinerated on-site, which contributes to air pollution. Incineration is extremely harmful to human health, causing chronic illness and developmental delays in nearby populations. Between 11 to 44 percent of U.S. laboratory workers experience allergic reactions to laboratory animals. Between 4 to 22 percent suffer from occupational asthma.

By supporting cruelty-free brands, you are ensuring no animal was harmed for the sake of your product. You’re also helping more ethical, humane, and sustainable alternatives become the norm.

what are cruelty-free products?

Cruelty-free products are any product that isn’t tested on animals in each and every phase of the production.

I’ve compiled a list of brands that don’t test on animals. I’ve gone ahead and highlighted some key features of each brand, but it isn’t an exhaustive list. Be sure to check out their websites for more information.

1. pacifica

• Natural skincare, haircare + cosmetics
• Bio sourced ingredients
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• Partner with the ACLU and the Gentle Barn

2. plaine products

• Natural, plant-based haircare and skincare
• Rosemary mint vanilla, citrus lavender, and unscented options
• Refillable + comes plastic-free aluminum bottles
• Vegan, cruelty-free, women owned, carbon neutral
• 100% plastic-free shipping

3. ecoroots

• All-natural skincare and haircare products
• Various scents available
• Vegan + cruelty-free
• Silicone Free, Phthalate-free & Paraben Free
• Plastic-free shipping

4. brixy

• Natural shampoo, conditioner + body wash bars
• 3 scents available: citrus, mint eucalyptus and coconut vanilla
• Vegan + cruelty-free
• Free from palm oil, sulfates, silicones, phthalates, parabens, synthetic scents + colorants

5. ethique

• Natural body + haircare products
• Various scents + types available
• Vegan + cruelty-free
• Plastic free + home compostable packaging

6. good time

• Natural hair + body bars
• No parabens, sulphates, or preservatives
• Vegan + cruelty-free
• Carbon neutral shipping
• 50% of profits to clean water initiatives

7. patch

• Compostable bamboo bandages
• Come packaged in recycled cardboard
• Organic content
• Vegan + cruelty-free

8. megafood

• Sustainable vitamins and supplements
• USDA Certified Organic
• Committed to regenerative agriculture
• Fair employment practices
• Lobbying to ban glyphosate
• Vegan, gluten-free + cruelty-free

9. blueland

• Sustainable cleaning + personal care products
• Refillable + compostable refill packets
• Hypoallergenic
• Leaping bunny certified
• B corp

10. nae shoes

• Women, men + unisex footwear
• Vegan + cruelty-free
• Made from sustainable materials like Pinatex, apple skin, cork, organic cotton, etc.
• Pre-loved program allows you to send back your shoes to be recycled or resold

So, which of these sustainable brands free of animal testing would you like to try? Let me know in the comments!

The post What Does Cruelty-Free Mean? +10 Ethical Brands appeared first on Going Zero Waste.

What Does Cruelty-Free Mean? +10 Ethical Brands