UPDATE: Please note that Urban Decay decided NOT to sell in China due to public outcry. They are now owned by L’Oreal (a non cruelty free brand), but they are not testing on animals, using labs/ingredient suppliers that test on animals, or selling in countries that require animal testing.
Urban Decay is no longer cruelty free. I’m deeply saddened to tell you that another cruelty free company has decided to sell in China (a country that REQUIRES animal testing), which means I can no longer consider them cruelty free. Urban Decay’s statement has always been, “We don’t test on animals. How could anyone?” Now, the statement seems to be, “We don’t test on animals, but if China tests on our behalf, we’ll allow it – but we won’t be happy about it and we’ll try to change it.” Sorry, but that’s not good enough for me. This is how I feel, but I want you to read the statements from Leaping Bunny and Urban Decay and make up your own mind.
Please tell me your thoughts in the comments below (or ping me via Twitter or Facebook). You can also contact Urban Decay to tell them how you feel about this change.
Leaping Bunny’s public statement:
6/6/12 – The Leaping Bunny Program, administered by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), regrets to inform compassionate consumers who look for the Leaping Bunny Logo that Urban Decay is no longer certified as cruelty-free by the Leaping Bunny Program. The company has notified us that they have elected to sell their products in China, which, due to animal testing requirements in that country, will cause them to be in violation of our Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals.
Concerned individuals may be aware that animal testing requirements implemented last year in China have caused other companies, such as Mary Kay, to be removed from the Leaping Bunny list due to similar concerns. And there may be more, as CCIC continually investigates reports of companies that may be a party to animal testing in order to sell in China.
The Leaping Bunny Program sets itself apart from other cruelty-free lists by reviewing companies’ adherence to a strict no animal testing standard and removing those companies that no longer comply. “The tragedy of this is that testing cosmetic products and ingredients on animals is cruel and unnecessary,” commented Sue Leary, Chair of CCIC. The certification program remains in dialogue with companies and other experts on the issue, and supports efforts to persuade Chinese officials to accept non-animal alternative test methods.
Companies certified through the Leaping Bunny Program pledge to eliminate animal testing from all stages of product development. The company’s ingredient suppliers make the same pledge and the result is a product guaranteed to be 100 percent free of new animal testing. All Leaping Bunny companies must be open to independent audits for verification, and pledge commitments are renewed on an annual basis.
View the statement on the Leaping Bunny website.
Urban Decay’s public statement:
Urban Decay is going to sell our products in China. Because of China’s policies on animal testing, we know that this will not be a popular decision with some of our loyal customers. But the decision is a thoughtful one.
For 16 years, we have been committed to two key causes: women’s rights, and the fight against animal testing. Our dedication to those causes will not waver.
For those of you unfamiliar with China’s policies, the sticking point is this: the Chinese government reserves the right to conduct animal testing with cosmetic products before the products are approved for use by Chinese citizens. The government has not told us if they have exercised this right with our products. So, our brand does not test on animals, but the Chinese government might conduct a one-time test using our products. Do we like China’s policies? No…and that is really the point. Going into China was a huge decision for Urban Decay. But, we believe that change cannot and will not happen by outside pressure alone in a closed market. Change can only happen from within. When we enter the Chinese market, we will do our part to help make those changes.
When we were considering expanding into China, a group of marketing consultants told us to remove the section of our company history that describes our crusade against animal testing. “It doesn’t mean anything to the Chinese beauty customer,” they said. Of course, we refused. Our “no animal testing” policy is part of who we are, and has been since day one. The news that animal issues don’t even register with the average Chinese consumer was one of the biggest factors in our decision to go there. During Urban Decay’s infancy, we worked hard to inform consumers about animal rights in the United States and Europe. The battleground for animal rights is now in China, and we want to be there to encourage dialogue and provoke change.
We also hope to shed some light on women’s rights issues in China. As a company that caters to a female customer, this is extremely important to us. For one thing, going into China is a way for us to advance women into important professional positions. We will help grow the cosmetics industry, which primarily employs and creates career paths for women. Although workers’ employment rights are a relatively new concept there, progress has been made partially because of pressure from businesses, consumers, and advocacy groups from other countries. Based on this, our belief is that both an outside force and inside pressure for change can result in helping transform both the importance of women and animal testing policies in China. And more importantly, we hope to influence the perspective of the citizens on both of these issues.
If we don’t go to China, other companies without our beliefs will, and the culture will never change. We want to encourage a culture of consumers who care enough to buy cruelty-free products, and who view professional women as role models who influence their lives on a daily basis.
Yes, we are a for-profit company. And yes, we would eventually like to make money in China. But we don’t stand to turn a profit in China for quite a while, partially because the market isn’t quite ready to sustain an untraditional brand like ours. If it were only about the money, we would wait a few years. But our foray into this market is also about participating in an amazing time of change in China. We don’t like animal testing (and neither do the 13 dogs in our office), but we are trying to change the world… even if it is one eye shadow at a time! Sitting on the sidelines isn’t our style. We understand that you might not like our decision, but we hope you can respect it.
Any editors or advocacy groups interested in interviews with Urban Decay founding partner Wende Zomnir may contact us at publicrelations@urbandecay.com.
For any advocates or Urban Decay fans interested, Urban Decay founding partner Wende Zomnir will host a live chat in 2 weeks to answer questions about our entry into China. Please check back to this page for a confirmed day and time.
View the statement on the UD website.
Please let me know if you’ve contacted Urban Decay. And feel free to post your thoughts in the comments below. – Jen and the My Beauty Bunny team
““We don’t test on animals, but if China tests on our behalf, we’ll allow it – but we won’t be happy about it and we’ll try to change it.” Sorry, but that’s not good enough for me.”
YES! I wrote a rant of my own: http://www.katoninetales.com/2012/06/urban-decay-cosmetics-surrenders-its.html SO ANGRY ABOUT THIS!!
If UD succeed in pushing for the elimination of animal testing, and make head way with women’s right. then good for them to want to be that company that sparks change… good press good money.
however, I’m having a hard time believing UD. Sounds like a bunch of PR and marketing strategy to make a bigger profit. China has a huge population, wealth people, and U.S brand obsessed fans. profit is going to be a huge factor. There are dozens of excellent brands out there like Naked, Too Face, Benefits, Tarte, etc… and of course a company would want to expand their market when their market at home in the west is like a turf war.
So so sad to hear this! I am a huge UD fan and when people ask me about the company I tell them one of my top reasons for loving them is that they are cruelty free… but not anymore! Whether they are testing themselves or China is, either way some poor defenseless animals are getting caged, smeared with cosmetics, and basically tortured for no good reason. Their defense of this situation is terrible. If they were really against animal testing they wouldn’t do business with China. They also need to change their slogan – it’s an insult to continue using it.
China requires animal testing? Whaaat? If the products are safe to use in other countries why would they still need to animal test UD products?
I sent an email to UD, but would love to do more. I highly encourage My Beauty Bunny to start a petition. I am outraged by this decision.
I agree! Just FYI – Benefit is not cruelty free. 🙁
One of the FB groups I belong to says that the requirement of testing for cosmetics may have been added as a way to try and deter non-Chinese companies from selling in China. I have no idea if that is true.
I’m grateful that Urban Decay was honest and released this press statement, rather than hiding their change.
That said, I don’t like that they are doing this. As I’ve said elsewhere online:
“I’m not a fan of animal testing. I’m merely trying to explain why this is not a black and white issue. To make a change in another culture, someone has to be able to find a way to make that change valuable and important to that culture.”
I’m very saddened by this and I feel the almighty dollar has won again. I know they are a for-profit company, but this is unacceptable. We’ll see how it plays out, but for the time being they won’t be getting any more of my money.
The unique selling proposition of Urban Decay as an animal-cruelty free company that makes great products is the very reason why they are in the business now. They have a niche market and loyal following who makes repeat purchase over and over for that reason. While I understand the company’s goal to penetrate new markets and increase bottom line, I am distraught by this strategy. It seems like that they candy coated the vision of changing the perspective of Chinese consumers so as to look a bit humane to us,their existing customers ( we don’t test but if they do,we can’t do anything about it). It’s sad to see another company tarnish their own image, all because of greed.
Good on Leaping Bunny for removing UD from their list. In my mind Urban Decay are definitely no longer cruelty free, despite what the UD press release says.
If UD make the decision to enter a market that requires animal testing, than that to me that is like Urban Decay holding up a sacrificial lamb to the China gods saying “you can harm this animal if we are allowed to sell our products in your country”. That is cruelty, my dear Urban Decay.
Shame on you Urban Decay! adding to the torture of animals in the name of $. You will not be getting any more of my business!
To be honest, I don’t generally check the CF status before buying the product (I know, it is something I should be doing), and UD’s case is something that is not unique. A lot of companies have these kind of policies, and that’s what makes the whole CF concept a bit blurry to me. What I do have an issue with, specifically in case of UD, is them trying to make this look like they are doing a good thing!
The almighty dollar wins out again. I understand the need to make a profit but picking a country like China? They are notorious for their cruelty towards animals. I am disgusted and will no longer purchase a thing from UD. They want to hide their heads in the sand while animals are tortured. Shame on them. I will be sure to spread this saddening and maddening news as well.
I know this will be a controversial comment but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Urban Decay’s decision. As they said if they don’t capitalise on the market their competitors will. They still aren’t testing on animals themselves but if the country they export to does they can’t be held accountable. They’ve been totally transparent about their move and I don’t see why everyone is so angry. I’m more than willing to be educated if someone has a better reason to be angry than capitalism.
China tests every product on animals so although it is still a terrible thing Urban Decay aren’t changing anything they’re just offering the consumer another brand option and hopefully raising awareness of animal cruelty.
Is anyone else frustrated by the fact that this is going in a country with such incredibly lax enforcement of testing and safety policies on things like baby formula, pet food, toys, medication, toothpaste, etc. etc….but that then makes a huge deal out of testing already safe *cosmetics* on animals?!?? Something which many countries have outlawed?
This Urban Decay business sucks. Green and hypocrisy win over ethics. Unconscionable. I’d been following this and commenting on it (Makeup Alley and blog) since the news broke too.
For further comment, as I’m too irate to rewrite it:
http://gingerrrama.wordpress.com
i.e. basically everything from the last three days. Yes, I’m that angry about it!
Keep up the good fight, and meantime there’s also an online petition at change.org: http://www.change.org/petitions/urban-decay-refuse-animal-testing-in-china
I’m so sad to hear this news! Just a few months ago I was a hardcore MAC fan & then they did the same thing. I moved on to UD & they seemed really big on promoting cruelty free products, but now it feels like that was just for show. I love makeup & now its back to the drawing board. 🙁
I sent them an email, for what it’s worth.
Actually, my friends, Urban Decay has a point — and a valid strategy. Think of the Trojan horse: give a gift to get yourself in and “attack” once you’re inside. Someone needs to get them to start thinking about animal cruelty. From what I know of Chinese culture, it is stubborn (to say the least). Their culture will not be permeated by someone shaking their fist from the outside. To believe that it will is to have no understanding of human psychology and culture. In order to change someone, you need to gain their respect and trust…
I use quite a few UD products and I am very upset about this change. I wrote to the company, and they were very prompt in responding, inviting me to a web chat to answer questions. But at the end of the day they are still (in my opinion) selling out and so, sadly, I am again on the hunt for fabulous cruelty-free eyeliners and shadows.
I am so disappointed to hear this. There is no excuse for their strategy. To reply to Khila’s comment, capitalism is no the issue in this case, it’s the principle they stood for that they fraudulently continue to claim they stand for that is the issue. They should be honest and say that the reason they are marketing to the Chinese is because they want more money. Regardless of whether or not they personally test on animals means nothing, it would be as if I say I’m against killing a person, but I’m ok if someone else does it on my behalf. That still makes me guilty by association, because I am allowing it. Do you understand? Its not about capitalism it’s about knowingly allowing a cruel country to conduct animal testing on their products on their behalf. If they cared about animals and animal testing like they claimed, then venturing into that country should have never been an option. It’s ridiculous for them to say they’re going to try to change the standards, the first thing they should have done was demanded change before they sell their products, not sell the products first and demand change. Its ludicrous and for that, they deserve to lose whatever business they will lose because of this, all of their loyal customers who supported their principle. Shame on them for even coming out with a statement like they did, attempting to hide their shame, at the end of the day they’re not going to make fools out of compassionate consumers.
Urban Decay have changed their plans: They have stated that until it can be done without animal testing, they will not be selling in China. Good news!
Is that last comment from August 8, that UD has changed their plans, true? Can you verify?
Yes – Urban Decay has changed their plans to sell in China! I wrote an updated post about it, but I should link it to this page. 🙂
Now they’ve been bought out by L’oreal! 🙁