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.
There’s something undeniably special about wearing uniquely handcrafted, fair trade jewelry that you can know was made slowly and thoughtfully with care. Equally special is wearing an elevated set of jewelry crafted with recycled materials and sustainable processes.
Whether you’re looking for an investment piece or more affordable pieces, there are options for any budget on this list. The aesthetics of these fair trade and sustainable jewelry brands also vary, so you’ll also be able to discover an ethical brand that matches your unique style.
What is Fair Trade Jewelry?
Fair trade can both be a general term used to describe a brand’s sourcing practices — like direct relationships with artisan cooperatives, wages above local standard rates, and safe working conditions — or a third-party “Fair Trade” verification through an organization like Fair Trade Federation, Fair Trade USA, or World Fair Trade Organization. When a brand doesn’t have a certification, we verify a brand’s practices by their own published information.
In the cases where brands do go the extra mile and get a third-party verification for their fair trade practices, we’ve noted it directly in their entries.
Note that this guide includes affiliate links and partners. As always, we only feature brands that meet high standards for responsibility we love, and that we think you’ll love too!
2. Ana Luisa
Best for: affordable everyday jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Recycled Gold, Lab-Grown Diamonds, Small-Batch Production, Direct-to-Consumer
Ana Luisa creates stunning, elegant jewelry from responsibly-sourced materials including 100% recycled gold and lab-grown diamonds. The sustainable jewelry brand also produces in small batches to minimize waste.
By using a direct-to-consumer model, Ana Luisa is able to provide luxury, high-quality jewelry at accessible prices.
3. Monica Vinader
Best for: recycled demi-fine jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Woman-Founded, Recycled Silver & Gold Vermeil, Traceable Gemstones, Lab-Grown & Conflict-Free Diamonds, Supply Chain Transparency
Price Range: $85 (studs) – $2,495 (diamond ring)
British jewelry brand Monica Vinader was one of the first brands to meet the gap between fashion jewelry and fine jewelry with their “demi fine” jewelry. The women-founded brand has necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings crafted from 100% recycled sterling silver and gold vermeil, fully traceable gemstones, and lab-grown or conflict-free diamonds. Monica Vinader also launched Product Passports, taking an active effort towards full supply chain transparency.
4. WorldFinds
Best for: unique statement jewelry with a story
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Verified, Upcycled Materials, Artisan-Made
WorldFinds provides sustainable employment and just wages for hundreds of women artisans in India and Bali. These artisans handcraft both sleek metal fair trade jewelry and unique recycled Kantha pieces. WorldFinds is Verified by the Fair Trade Federation, which assesses members against fair trade principles including fair wages, safe conditions, and transparent supply chains.
Plus WorldFinds’ signature Kantha jewelry is made from upcycling materials: wood scraps from a furniture factory and locally sourced Kantha fabric remnants.
5. Astor + Orion
Best for: drop earrings and charm necklaces with symbolism
Conscious Qualities: Certified Ethical Factory, Recycled Materials, Designed for Recyclability, Repair Program
Ethical jewelry brand Astor + Orion sources their jewelry from a factory with multiple certifications ensuring worker safety, fair production practices, and responsible environmental management. Astor + Orion’s stunning jewelry is made from recycled materials and designed in a way to make it easily recyclable! Their pieces also come with a quality assurance — the brand will repair any piece within 6 months of purchase.
6. Laura Elizabeth
Best for: non-toxic jewelry in organic shapes
Conscious Qualities: Locally Sourced Recycled Metals, Woman-Owned, Fair Wages, Safe Working Conditions
Price Range: $45 – $330
Crafted from recycled metals sourced locally in LA, Laura Elizabeth creates stand-out sustainable jewelry. All of the brand’s jewelry is sourced ethically from a small, woman-owned studio in Los Angeles that ensures reasonable working hours (35 hr/week), fair wages, and safe working conditions (such as proper ventilation). Check out more on Laura Elizabeth in this post!
The jewelry is also non-toxic, free of cadmium or lead.
7. Ten Thousand Villages
Best for: giftable fair trade jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Production, Artisan-Made
Price Range: $6 – $175
Founded in 1946, Ten Thousand Villages is one of the fair trade pioneers and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the global network that verifies fair trade practices across its member organizations.
They’ve developed relationships with artisans around the world, providing valuable economic opportunities for thousands of makers in 30 countries around the world. Their marketplace has handmade necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings, along with a variety of other fair trade goods.
8. Edge of Ember
Best for: gemstone jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Recycled Gold & Silver, Artisan-Made, Ethical Production
Price Range: $49 (ear cuff) – $2,730 (diamond tennis bracelet)
Edge of Ember’s timeless jewelry is responsibly crafted by makers working in artisan groups and small-scale factories. Their delicate necklaces, bracelets, rings, and other pieces are crafted by skilled artisans in India, Hong Kong, Germany, and Thailand. The brand carries out independent social audits to ensure ethical working conditions and environmental responsibility.
Edge of Ember has a wide selection of recycled gold and silver rings, bracelets, and necklaces adorned with stunning gemstones, including many birthstone jewelry options perfect for gifting.
9. Aurate
Best for: ethical diamond fine jewelry
Conscious Qualities: 100% Recycled Gold, Lab-Grown & Conflict-Free Diamonds, Vintage Collection
Price Range: $18 (stainless steel chain) – $19,000 (diamond tennis necklace)
Responsibly-sourced quality jewelry — that’s Aurate’s promise. The jewelry brand’s sleek, timeless pieces are thoughtfully made by seventh-generation craftspeople using 100% recycled gold and lab-grown or conflict-free diamonds.
Aurate also has a curated collection of vintage fine jewelry from cocktail watches to signet rings up to 50% off.
10. SOKO
Best for: modern, minimalist artisan-made jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Above-Market Artisan Wages, Black-Owned
Price Range: $78 – $298
SOKO is an innovative Black-owned ethical jewelry brand using mobile tools to bridge the barriers for artisan entrepreneurs in Kenya