Parent Companies that are not Cruelty-Free.

A dilemma that vegans, me included, have faced is whether or not a company should still be considered cruelty-free when they are owned by a parent company that is not. Some examples are Urban Decay (owned by L'Oreal), Becca (owned by Estee Lauder), and Tarte (owned by Kose). There are two sides to this argument and I will be presenting them both. While researching about this topic, I found that the topic is not black and white and people may feel strongly about one opinion over another. Keep in mind that the terms cruelty-free and vegan are not interchangeable as cruelty-free simply means that the product was not tested on animals, while vegan means that there are no animal derived ingredients.


Are they really still cruelty-free?
Technically, yes. Companies that have a parent company that are not cruelty-free can still retain their cruelty-free status. As long as the company still keeps with their cruelty-free policies (including remaining certified through Leaping Bunny), they are still cruelty-free. Some parent companies also sell in China and if the cruelty-free company starts to as well, they are no longer cruelty-free.


What is the deal with China anyways?
You may have heard a few things when it comes to companies selling their products in China. In order to sell cosmetics in China, you legally have to test on animals. By default that makes the brand no longer cruelty-free. They can, however, make their products in China, but not sell them, and remain cruelty-free because this doesn't require them to test on animals.


But isn't my money going towards a company that test on animals?
At the end of the day, yes you are correct. The money you spend on a product will go to the parent company. So you are indirectly giving money to a company that test on animals- exactly what you wanted to avoid (keep in mind that not ALL the money is going towards the parent company, but be aware that some of it is). Some argue that they are okay with this because you almost never have the opportunity to buy, lets say groceries, from a completely cruelty-free brand. How many of us can say that we only shop at cruelty-free, vegan grocery stores? On the other hand, many see this as an opportunity to send a message to companies. This creates a supply and demand for cruelty-free, vegan products.


Will companies actually change if we only buy cruelty-free?
The short answer is yes. It's simple supply and demand. If companies don't move away from testing on animals as we as a society condemn these practices, they'll be forced to consider other options. As more consumers turn to cruelty-free brands, the other companies will feel the pressure to change their practices. I even found an outline of the changes that consumers have made in global market: here.

How will I know which brands are cruelty-free?
There are many online resources such as Leaping Bunny and Cruelty-Free Kitty that list who is and who is not cruelty-free. Leaping Bunny also has an app for when you're on the go. They even list if they are owned by a parent company. If you can't find anything on these platforms, you can email the company to see if they're cruelty-free or not. This would also be a good time to ask if they have a parent company, sell in China, and what products are vegan.


Please remember that being vegan means causing the least amount of harm possible to animals. This is a personal choice on whether or not you want to keep supporting these brands. Every vegan decides what they are comfortable with and what they're not.