Why we’re standing against ECHA’s proposals
When it comes to testing cosmetics, we say use science, not animals.
TRESemmé – one of the world’s biggest names in haircare – is the 24th brand from Unilever’s Beauty & Personal Care portfolio to join the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Beauty Without Bunnies list.
The ‘not tested on animals’ certification applies to TRESemmé’s entire range – available in 65 countries. The PETA-Approved logo will appear on TRESemmé packaging from January 2022, and TRESemmé has enacted a policy which means animal tests on any of its products, anywhere in the world, is strictly prohibited.
“Not testing any of our products on animals is critical to our values at TRESemmé. PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies programme is recognised worldwide for its high-quality standards and rigour, and we are proud to be a brand that is officially PETA-Approved,” says Bérengère Loubatier, Global Brand Vice President at TRESemmé.
“With TRESemmé’s range of professional quality products, our consumers can own their style while knowing that none of our products are tested on animals.”
“PETA’s global Beauty Without Bunnies Programme welcomes Unilever’s iconic professional haircare brand, TRESemmé, to our list of companies that have banned all tests on animals,” adds Kathy Guillermo, PETA’s Senior Vice President, Laboratory Investigations Department.
“Compassionate shoppers everywhere can now look to TRESemmé for professional quality hair products that are not animal-tested. We agree that every woman should look and feel fabulous – and by using animal test-free products, we can all feel beautiful from the inside out.”
Use science, not animals
Unilever is listed by PETA as a company working for regulatory change. We’ve used and developed alternatives to animal testing to assess product safety for more than 40 years, and we firmly believe science and technology can provide reliable, accurate and far more humane assurance.
In March, we launched our Positive Beauty vision, which aims to do more good, not just less harm, for people and the planet. As part of this commitment, we stepped up our calls for a global ban on animal testing for cosmetics by 2023. But this ambition is under threat.
Julia Fentem, Head of Unilever’s Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, explains: “The acceptance of alternatives to animal testing by regulatory authorities remains the final barrier to ending animal testing for cosmetics.
“China has just made another important step forward by ending mandatory animal testing for most cosmetics products. Now we’re facing a challenge to Europe’s longstanding ban following requests for new animal testing from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).”
Julia adds: “We say use science, not animals, and TRESemmé joins a long list of PETA-Approved brands that need to see the ban protected.”
Last year, Unilever joined forces with animal protection organisations and more than 450 other cruelty-free brands to co-sign an open letter to ECHA calling for the EU cosmetics animal testing ban to be upheld, with no new animal tests allowed.