Lush is Against Animal Testing
LUSH is firmly committed to a policy that not only inhibits testing our products and ingredients on animals, or engaging with third-party suppliers to do so on our behalf, but that also prohibits buying any ingredient from any supplier that tests any materials on any animals for any purpose. This policy is unique in the cosmetics world and is pioneering a new way to stop animal tests for cosmetics. LUSH runs a Supplier Specific Boycott Policy. By doing this, we give an economic incentive to suppliers and have convinced two companies to switch to cruelty free practices as a result. If a company will alter their practices, we will buy their goods.
What does this mean to you? Cosmetic products that you use on a daily basis are subject to testing for public safety. Products that you use on your body should be safe to use but they do not have to be tested on animals to assure public safety. To LUSH, there’s absolutely no reason for guinea pigs choking to death after being force-fed shampoo and rabbits going blind from having mascara dripped into their eyes. Animal testing is unnecessary, irrelevant and cruel. Since the movement to stop animal testing started, policies have been created to work with cosmetics companies and raw materials suppliers to end animal cruelty.
We are just some of the many who have lobbied for years against animal testing. On March 11th, 2009, one battle was won; animal testing for cosmetic ingredients was banned under the Cosmetics Directive in the UK. LUSH North America still purchases about 80% of our raw material from the UK, so we have a strong relationship with their animal testing laws. Unfortunately, our excitement was cut short when a new piece of legislation was passed; the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). REACH mandates that any ingredients not previously tested on animals have to undergo animal tests, totally contradicting the ban under the Cosmetics Directive and effectively spelling the end of cruelty-free cosmetics.
Testing on animals causes pain, distress and death to thousands of animals. In addition to the cruelty that animal testing causes it does not always test for safety accurately. Our products are safely tested by humans, in the manner for which the products are intended, not on animals. We believe that this method is more reliable, and more relevant. Due to the significant differences between species in skin, hair, eyes, metabolism and absorption rates, animal testing cannot define clear relationships between the test and the intended product use. Results can vary from test to test, and from lab to lab. Fortunately, new and humane testing methods exist and are continuing to be developed. Computer prediction, in vitro (test tube) and cell-based tests are becoming effective, reliable and humane testing replacements.
If we do not test on animals, how do we test for the safety of our products? It is quite a process that merges scientific practice and human results. When a product makes it through the creative design process and is scheduled for launch, LUSH UK makes a test batch and sends it to human volunteers who use the product. The volunteers fill out an extensive questionnaire that asks if the product was effective for the intended purpose and if it caused reactions. The questionnaires are then collected and the information is compiled in a document sent to two specialists. The specialists, one a doctor, check the product formula, review the results, and based on their analysis certify the release of the product. If they feel the product is not yet ready to be released or does not meet standards, we make any necessary changes or delay the product release until standards are met.
The product inventors for LUSH have over 30 years of experience and education in the conception of products. This experience allows the team a good understanding of how products should turn out and what works- allowing room for mistakes and minor stumbling blocks of course. In addition to the creative teams’ expertise, a pre-existing inventory of cosmetic ingredients already exists with long history of use and these are generally accepted as safe. With every product LUSH makes, we aim for them to be fun, effective and safe.
Next time you purchase any kind of cosmetic item, ask yourself where those ingredients came from and how that product made it to the shelves. Does it contain animal byproducts? How was it tested? Where was it made? Becoming conscious consumers is one of the most powerful things we can do to make a difference; choosing not to purchase products tested on animals, cosmetic or otherwise, sends a strong message to industry and government to stop this cruel and unnecessary practice. At LUSH, we’ve been against animal testing for over 30 years and will continue to inform, encourage and participate in the fight for animal rights.