Cruelty-free Bunny Logos, Explained!
The bunny has become the unofficial universal symbol of the cruelty-free movement. As such, you’ll see a lot of little bunny icons on your cruelty-free products. But what do they mean, exactly? Are they interchangeable? Is one bunny logo better than all the others? What if there isn’t a bunny on a cruelty-free product?
It can be confusing, so I’m gonna break it down for you. Let’s hop to it!
So, exactly how many cruelty-free “bunny logos” are there?
At the moment, there are really only three legitimate cruelty-free accrediting bodies. If you see a bunny logo that’s different from the three below, it’s time to dig a bit deeper. This blog will help you avoid falling down a rabbit hole of misinformation when you do.
Recognized logos
Beauty Without Bunnies
Beauty Without Bunnies is PETA’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) cruelty-free certification project.
PETA is based in the United States, but any company worldwide can apply for the certification.
PETA has changed the logos over the years, so you may see other variations. Also, the logo has a cruelty-free or cruelty-free and vegan version. See all of PETA’s logos to learn more.
Leaping Bunny
The “Leaping Bunny” logo is used by Cruelty Free International, which is an international organization (as their name suggests). However, they work with regional partners to manage the program. In Canada and the USA, that partner is the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics. For that reason, there may be variations on the logo by region.
Leaping Bunny is often thought of as the gold standard when it comes to cruelty-free certification.
Choose Cruelty Free Bunny
Choose Cruelty-Free is the certifying body behind this logo.
Choose Cruelty-Free is based in Australia, and to be certified brands have to be selling to the Australian market.
They are an independent, non-profit organization that campaigns to end animal testing that is used in cosmetics, toiletries, and other household products.
What if I don’t see one of those cruelty-free logos?
If one of the above logos isn’t used, it doesn’t automatically mean that a product is tested on animals. For example, consider a product with packaging that just states the product is cruelty-free, without a logo. There are a few scenarios that could be happening here:
Cruelty-free and certified, but not using the logo: The product could be approved by any of the organizations mentioned above, but chose not to pay to license the logo. Applying to be certified is cheap or free, but licensing a logo costs more, so lots of companies don’t pay to use the logo. In that case, you can still find the product on the website databases of the cruelty-free orgs.
Cruelty-free, but not certified: The product could be cruelty-free, but its makers have not applied for review by any of these bodies. Just because they haven’t applied doesn’t mean they necessarily test on animals. This is especially true for new companies, who might not have had the time to apply yet.
Not cruelty-free: They could test on animals, and just be lying. “Cruelty-free” isn’t a regulated term, unfortunately, so there really isn’t anything stopping a company from creating a fake logo like I did below, and popping it on their product (I mean, other than morals and integrity).
Legit cruelty-free logos vs ones I just made up
So where does all this leave a conscious consumer? Here’s my take. Although I know that a company can be cruelty-free without having its products third-party certified, I think being certified shows a certain level of commitment to the cruelty-free cause. Second, because “cruelty-free” isn’t a regulated term, I think third-party certification is even more important—there is no government oversight, so the least a company can do is work with a certifying body to prove to its consumers that they are doing the right thing and taking it seriously. And it’s free to apply both North American orgs, so there isn’t much of an excuse not to.
Also, although I am an advocate for being a responsible consumer, and doing your own research on a brand before handing them your money, I know that can be a lot of work sometimes! So a product bearing a recognized logo from a reputable third-party certifying body, just makes it a little easier on consumers to make an ethical choice, especially for those who are new to being a conscious consumer.
If a brand isn’t certified, but claims to be cruelty-free, how do I know if they’re lying or not?
Unfortunately, there’s no perfect method for verifying non-certified cruelty-free claims. This is another reason why I think third-party verification is so important. But you can contact the company directly, and ask them these questions that I use when talking to brands:
Does your brand test on animals, for either finished products or individual ingredients in products?
Do your suppliers test on animals? If no, how do you ensure they don’t?
Do any third-parties test on animals on your behalf?
Do you test on animals when/where required by law?
Are your products sold (excluding online sales) anywhere that testing on animals is required by law (for example, mainland China)?
Generally, if a company is truly cruelty-free, they should easily be able to address these questions, and will probably be enthusiastic about answering you. If a brand is proud of something they are doing, they’re usually pretty excited to tell you all about it.
You’ll kind of have to go with your gut and decide if the way the brand answered these questions makes you feel comfortable supporting them.
What bunny logo do you go by, Kassia?
I think everyone has to do their own research and make up their own mind about what they’re comfortable with, especially since “cruelty-free” isn’t a regulated term. As a Canadian, Choose Cruelty Free doesn’t often apply to me, since it’s only used in Australia. I personally find PETA’s regulations a little loosey-goosey, and I wish they would tighten up their requirements. I think requiring supporting documents is pretty important, and PETA doesn’t ask for that. I also think audits are important for ensuring compliance.
*Depending on what PETA certification a brand is pursuing, they may or may not have ingredient restrictions. They offer a cruelty-free & vegan logo, as well as just a cruelty-free one.
So for these reasons, I prefer Leaping Bunny, but that’s a personal preference. I would still totally consider a product cruelty-free with a PETA logo, and even buy some occasionally. I just tend to do a bit more background research on those brands first.
I hope this blog helps you feel more confident deciphering all the bunny logos out there that seem to be multiplying like rabbits. As always, if you have any questions or thoughts, know that you can hit me up on Instagram. I always love hearing from you!
Bunny hugs,
Kassia