Animal testing
We believe that at the very minimum, there can be an immediate and massive reduction in the millions of animals used every year in experiments.
L’Oréal and The Body Shop –persistence pays off. At Naturewatch Foundation we are all about demonstrating how dedication and commitment really can make a difference.
This campaign is about L’Oréal and The Body Shop – there’s a bit of history to get through, but we promise it’s worth the read.
What happened in 2000
L’Oréal’s use of ‘innovative’ ingredients, tested on rabbits, mice and guinea pigs, led to our boycott of L’Oréal in 2000. We encouraged consumers to boycott their products and those of subsidiary companies which, disappointingly, included The Body Shop.
We told users about the brand names of all the products made by L’Oréal and their subsidiary companies (and we pointed out that Nestlé are major shareholders in L’Oréal).
Despite several approaches by letter and telephone, L’Oréal refused to meet us, but suggested we set up a meeting with the CTPA (the Cosmetics, Toiletries and Perfumery Association), their industry lobbying body. In the meantime, we organised a National Day of Protest against L’Oréal with events in more than 28 locations around the country including outside their headquarters in London.
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L’Oréal and The Body Shop – events in 2006
In March 2006, L’Oréal announced a takeover of The Body Shop, which was doubly disappointing. Supporters voiced their dismay with letters, phone calls, emails and protests outside shops up and down the country.
We produced flyers and posters, encouraging the public to write to The Body Shop and boycott their products.
One year later
In 2007 protests continued to keep L’Oréal’s use of animal-tested ingredients in the media spotlight around the world. For example, in Australia, members of Animal Liberation Victoria held a demonstration outside a Body Shop in Melbourne’s central business district.
Our Boycott Campaign ensured that the once loyal Body Shop ‘big spenders’ took their custom elsewhere. Read the press release ‘One Year On, Once Loyal ‘Big Spenders’ Boycott Body Shop’.
In November 2017 L’Oréal sold The Body Shop, blaming ‘adverse trading conditions’ for disappointing sales. However, since the brand’s takeover by L’Oréal, well-informed shoppers had become increasingly suspicious of the brand’s ‘ethical’ message.
The Body Shop was then acquired by major Brazilian firm, Natura – good news on being free from L’Oréal, but now we needed to understand the new owners and their approach to animal welfare. Our supporters called on Natura to reveal their full animal testing policy.
After hundreds of letters, Natura finally replied and after months of asking, their representatives announced they’ve implemented a fixed cut-off date animal testing policy, the gold standard of cruelty-free policies. It’s the type that companies must have to feature in our Compassionate Shopping Guide.
In January 2018 we ended our boycott of The Body Shop and we’re delighted to say the company is now endorsed in the Compassionate Shopping Guide. It brings an end to an almost 12-year campaign.
And L’Oréal itself? Well, that campaign continues…
Royal Commission
The Labour Party came to office in 1997 having promised to back a Royal Commission on animal experiments. But nothing happened, so we campaigned under the banner ‘Labour’s broken promises’, demanding that the Royal Commission be set up.
Fortunately for Labour, they were let off the hook by a select committee of the House of Lords producing their own report, which was a thoroughly researched review. We then decided to campaign for the implementation of this report, which achieved success in the announcement of a National Centre for the 3Rs – replacement, reduction and refinement of animal research.
Why a Royal Commission?
Animal experiments have always been shrouded in secrecy. The industry prefers this secrecy because of the public’s revulsion surrounding the use of animals for experimental purposes. It’s this very secrecy that has stifled progress for so many years. This issue is a cause for great public concern, yet the most recent independent inquiry was held in 1906.
In 1996 we began campaigning for an independent inquiry in the form of a Royal Commission –
the best-known type of inquiry that gives the government advice and information from expert and lay opinion outside the Civil Service. Our campaign gained the cross-party support of 355 MPs (over half of all MPs sitting at Westminster) before the June 2000 General Election, with 228 MPs signing our 1999-2000 Early Day Motion calling for a Royal Commission and 239 MPs signing our Early Day Motion in 2001.
The aims
We believe that at the very minimum, there can be an immediate and massive reduction in the millions of animals used every year in experiments.
The main areas we want the Royal Commission to investigate are:
- Genetic Engineering and Xenotransplantation – in 10 years there was an increase of 825% in the numbers of animals used in this area.
- To examine the industry’s failure on non-animal alternatives – the experiment industry acknowledges that current legislation fails to give any impetus, resulting in very little progress over the past forty years.
- To eliminate commercial competition in sharing animal experiment data – this can be achieved by establishing a central database run by a government office – 47% of all experiments are for commercial purposes.
- The overbreeding of animals for experiments – these unwanted animals are never included in any statistics as they’d raise the number of animals used each year in Great Britain to 8-9 million.
- Labelling on ingredients or products tested on animals needs to be reviewed – consumers should be given enough information on product labels to make informed decisions.
The secrecy surrounding animal experiments must be stopped – certainly commercial confidentiality should be taken into account, as should the prevention of extremist activity, but this shouldn’t be used for extending secrecy throughout every aspect of the industry.
This allows no accountability and permits dangerous self-regulation. We need to find some middle ground to allow legitimate inquiries to be addressed openly.
The campaign attracted support from many international animal welfare organisations, leading supermarket chains, celebrities and over 1 million concerned members of the public.
Every year nearly 3 million animals are killed in the UK through animal experimentation. An Independent Inquiry is long overdue to tackle a range of serious and complex issues surrounding the use of animals in experiments.
Many people are shocked to learn that over 50% of all experiments are carried out for testing commercial products and that the experiment industry is reluctant to develop alternatives because of vested financial interests.
Throughout 1999 our supporters intensively lobbied MPs in their constituencies and Naturewatch representatives met with seven leading animal welfare MPs to discuss the possible ‘Terms of Reference’ of the Royal Commission Inquiry.
John Ruane, Naturewatch Director, attended a special forum on the issue of animal experimentation with the Home Office Minister, George Howarth, in July 1999.
How you can help
There are lots of ways to help with our work, from making a donation through to holding fundraising events or even getting involved as a volunteer. Below, you can explore the different ways to help us continue raising standards for animals.
Share your story and photos to help us celebrate the powerful bond between people and their animals.
This simple step would reduce harm to wildlife. Help us deliver this message directly to retailers who can make a real difference.
UK wildlife is under threat, yet crimes against it are treated as minor offences. Urgent legal reform is needed.
Join us in telling your local MP why a change in law is vital to protect our wildlife.
Join us in asking the UK Government to finally end animal testing for all everyday household products.
Unethical extreme designer pet trends are pushing cats and kittens to the limit.
Join us in calling for extreme cat breeding to be banned across the UK.
Your support helps us protect wildlife and tackle cruelty. Every donation makes a real impact.
Take part in a way that works for you, whether volunteering, fundraising or donating items, and help create a kinder future for animals.
