PETA and Leaping Bunny are both known for their list of companies who do not test their products on animals, with PETA being the more popular of the two. Most people don’t know about Leaping Bunny and only find out about them if they start to research more in depth about cruelty-free lists. But really, what’s the difference between the two organizations and their lists?
As a summary, the Leaping Bunny Program is a certification program that expects companies to prove that they and their suppliers do not conduct animal testing while PETA only requires companies to declare this. Leaping Bunny’s certification is the only internationally recognized certification of its kind.
WHO ARE THEY?
PETA: PETA stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and was founded in 1980 by Ingrid Newkirk, an animal rights activist. It is a nonprofit charitable organization and the largest animal rights organization in the world. They are well known for their provocative advertisements that are very eye catching and often controversial.
Leaping Bunny: The Leaping Bunny Program is often referred to as Leaping Bunny or leapingbunny.org. It was started by eight national animal rights groups who formed the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC).
Difference: PETA is one animal rights organization while Leaping Bunny is a collective of 8 animal rights organizations in North America and Europe.
WHAT DO THEY DO?
PETA: They focus on the education and promotion of animal rights. According to their website, “PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in laboratories, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry.”
Leaping Bunny: The CCIC saw that cruelty-free products weren’t standardized and companies could easily mislead consumers on their animal testing practices. The CCIC created the Leaping Bunny Program which provides a comprehensive, internationally recognized standard that companies can obtain to certify themselves as cruelty-free.
Difference: PETA focuses on various aspects of animal rights while the Leaping Bunny Program focuses on the certification of cruelty-free companies for consumer information.
CRUELTY-FREE COMPANIES LISTS: PETA VS LEAPING BUNNY
PETA: They manage lists of companies who test and do not test their products or ingredients on animals. These lists can be found here.
In order to be included on PETA’s list, Companies That Don’t Test on Animals, companies must do the following:
1. Complete a short questionnaire
2. Sign a statement of assurance verifying that they do not conduct, commission, or pay for any tests on animals for ingredients, formulations, or finished products and that they pledge not to do so in the future.
Once a company qualifies, PETA will then add them to the appropriate lists on their website, in their printable pocket-sized shopping guide and their shopping guide brochure.
Leaping Bunny: Companies certified under the Leaping Bunny Program are listed on the Leaping Bunny website and pocket-size shopping guides. This list can be found here.
In order to be certified by the Leaping Bunny Program, companies must do the following:
1. Provide proof that the do not conduct animal testing on any stage of product development and that their suppliers do not as well.
2. Be subjected to regular on-site audits by an impartial third party to ensure their no animal testing claim.
Once a company qualifies, Leaping Bunny will add them to the appropriate lists on their website and in their printable pocket-sized shopping guide.
Difference: PETA only requires companies to fill out a brief questionnaire and claim that they and their ingredient suppliers do not test on animals. Leaping Bunny does this as well but also evaluating companies on-site to certify that their products are not tested on animals. The Leaping Bunny Program also subjects companies to regular audits to ensure that the company’s certification is valid.
LOGOS: PETA VS LEAPING BUNNY
PETA:
This is PETA’s logo, which is used to indicate that a company has qualified for PETA’s Companies That Don’t Test on Animals list. In order for companies to be able to use this logo on their website, product containers or promotional material, they must pay PETA a one-time $100 licensing fee. On product lines that are also vegan companies can use a version of the logo that has the statement “Cruelty-Free and Vegan.”
Leaping Bunny:
This is the Leaping BUnny logo, which is used to indicate that a company has been certified under the Leaping Bunny Program. In order for companies to be able to use this logo on their website, product containers or promotional material, they must pay a one-time fee, which operates on a sliding scale, based on a company’s gross annual sales.
Difference: The logos operate the same way and both require a one-time licensing fee to the respective organization for the company to use.
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Sources:
Information on PETA: peta.org
Information on the Leaping Bunny Program: leapingbunny.org
All information was obtained in January, 2013.
Certification Labels on Canadian Products
While browsing the Health Canada website on laws and regulations I came across this helpful section on product labeling that I thought would be good to share on here. I’ve seen these labels on products before and wasn’t sure if they were standard labels or just common terms. Turns out there are popular terms used on product labels in Canada and their meanings according to Health Canada are as follows.
The text below has been copied and pasted here. Nothing has been paraphrased in order to maintain accuracy.
Fragrance Free or Unscented
This means that no fragrances have been added to the cosmetic product, or that a masking agent has been added to hide the scents from the other ingredients in the cosmetic. Some products labelled fragrance-free may actually contain “fragrance” or “parfum” on the list of ingredients.
Hypoallergenic
“Hypoallergenic” is neither a legal nor a scientific term. It simply means that the manufacturer has chosen ingredients to produce a finished product with minimum potential for causing allergy. This does not guarantee that the product will not cause an allergic reaction in some individuals, since people are allergic to a wide range of substances. There are no non-allergenic cosmetics. If you experience an allergic reaction to a cosmetic, try switching to a different brand.
Ophthalmologist Tested/Dermatologist Tested
These terms usually mean that a test on the product was conducted to make sure that the product is not (or is less) irritating to eyes or skin, and that this test involved a skin or eye doctor at some point during the study. It is the safety of the product that has been tested, not how effective the product is. There are no regulations that standardize the type or number of tests needed to use this claim on labels.
Not Tested on Animals
This means the cosmetic product was not tested on animals, but does not guarantee that the individual ingredients were not tested on animals. For new ingredients, animal testing is sometimes needed to determine that the ingredient is safe. The scientific community is moving toward using fewer animals and is gradually producing valid tests that do not use live animals, instead using cell cultures (called “in vitro testing”) as well as predictive computer models. However, these new methods cannot completely replace animal testing at this time.
Preservative-Free
This term means that preservatives have not been added as an ingredient to the product. Natural or synthetic preservatives are essential for all cosmetics. The warm and damp area of your bathroom, where people use and store many cosmetic products, can be an ideal environment for microorganisms to grow in your cosmetics. Microorganisms can also find their way into cosmetics through cross-contamination when a cosmetic or its applicator touches your skin or hair and then touches the cosmetic again. Fortunately, most cosmetics contain preservatives to keep harmful bacteria, mold and yeast from finding its way in and growing on your cosmetics.
Organic
“Organic” is a term that means that a plant or other natural material is certified to be produced without pesticides. Organic standards and certification vary from province to province, but generally, when a product is labelled as “organic”, this means that the entire product is made from greater than 95% organic ingredients. Individual ingredients can also be labelled as “organic” if they meet the standards.
Source: Health Canada article, Cosmetic Advertising, Labelling and Ingredients
Laser Hair Removal on Dark Skin: Arms & Abdomen (Treatment 1)
When I posted about my experience with laser hair removal I regretted not documenting my journey, so when I decided to get my arms and abdomen done I thought it would be great to blog about it. I had my first treatment on both this week. The laser used on both areas was the Sporano XL pain-free laser which is safe to use on darker skin.
I will post updates as I go through my sessions over the year. I am scheduled for 5 more sessions for each area and treatments are 8 weeks apart. Assuming that I will not need any more sessions, I will have no hair on my arms or abdomen by November 2013.
ARMS
I am getting my full arms done, which is considered a “large area” and retails for $700 a session at the location I go to. Thankfully I got a deal and didn’t have to pay nearly as much.
Unlike the other body parts I’ve had done (underarms, face, legs) this was the most awkward. First shaving my arms was scary – I’ve never removed the hair on my arms and it was really intimidating to do this. It was also hard to shave my right arm with my left hand so I had to get my husband to help me. I also wasn’t sure how far up to shave as my shoulders have noticeable hair as well and I didn’t know if this was covered in the “full arms” area.
During the laser session, I had to hold my arm up in the air half the time so that the technician could get to all the areas. My arm had to be perfectly still while I was lying down and it started to cramp up after a while. It doesn’t take too long (maybe 5-10 minutes) so it wasn’t too bad. My elbows are quite a bit darker than my arms so she had to use a lower setting in that area.
ABDOMEN
My abdomen section is also considered a “medium area” and retails at $$225 a session. I got a deal on this as well so I paid much less for it.
This area was straight forward. It covered my stomach from just above the pubic hairline to just below my breasts. On the side it went halfway between my abdomen and my back. This area was really easy to shave and when the technician was treating it I almost fell asleep. It was quite relaxing lying on my back with the warmth on my belly.
