Herbal Essences Commits to Never Testing on Animals … Even in China

This week, Procter & Gamble-owned haircare brand Herbal Essences committed to never testing on animals companywide, including in China. The company currently sells its products in China—where animal-testing is still mandatory for certain goods—but is working within Chinese regulations to avoid animal testing. Herbal Essences is also collaborating with PETA International Science Consortium—an arm of animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)—to develop human-relevant methods of testing products that do not involve animals. With this new commitment, PETA has included Herbal Essences on its list of cruelty-free companies and all of its haircare products will soon display PETA’s bunny logo. “PETA’s cruelty-free credential and logo provide consumers with the assurance they are looking for as they choose their shampoos and conditioners,” Global Herbal Essences Vice President Lisa Jennings said. “We’re proud to have passed PETA’s stringent verification process to join their trusted list of cruelty-free brands.” Last year, after pressure from PETA, competing drugstore beauty brand Dove Company—owned by Unilever—enacted a company policy that bans animal testing worldwide and is currently changing its packaging to display PETA’s cruelty-free bunny logo.