Over the past two years, our production team leads in our making rooms in Dent, Cumbria have been working closely with the Leaping Bunny organisation. Their hard work means we are now approved as cruelty-free under the Leaping Bunny programme.
Whenever we have created our formulations in the past or sourced the natural ingredients we use, we have always adhered to our own ethical code, against cruelty to animals and animal testing, and we have never used animal-derived ingredients. We have always believed in transparency about the practices we champion and the way we do things.
By aligning ourselves with the globally recognised Leaping Bunny organisation means the world to us as a company, because it reassures our customers, underscoring our cruelty-free stance.
What did the process involve?
The application process involved identifying and documenting all the ingredients we use, including which supplier they came from, with a total of over 250 separate ingredients! We then contacted each supplier and manufacturer to request a declaration stating that no animal testing had been carried out since our fixed cutoff date (March 2013). A ‘Supplier Monitoring System’ was implemented for tracking all of our current suppliers for every ingredient we use. This declaration will now be updated annually and as we move forward, all new ingredients and products will be signed off by the Leaping Bunny programme, ahead of their first making.
You will start to see the Leaping Bunny logo appearing on all our new packaging. This will be a gradual process, so if you don’t see it straight away on a product, don’t worry – the product itself is approved under the Leaping Bunny programme and once we reprint the packaging, the logo will be added.
If you want to find out more, here is some interesting information Leaping Bunny has created all about cruelty-free products –
Myths & Facts
The Myth, if a product says ‘cruelty-free’ or has a bunny logo on it, that means it has not been tested on animals.
The Fact…
The reality is, there currently is no regulation over the term ‘cruelty-free’. Claims such as ‘cruelty-free’ or ‘not tested on animals’ or even the simple image of a bunny on a label may only refer to the finished product, when in fact, nearly all animal testing occurs at the ingredient level. Furthermore, while a company may claim ‘we do not test on animals’, it could still contract other companies to do the testing. The only way to be 100% certain a company is cruelty-free is to buy products from companies that have been certified by the Leaping Bunny programme, which requires that no new animal testing be used in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories or ingredient suppliers.
The Myth, the law requires animal testing to be conducted on personal care and cosmetics products.
The Fact…
100% false. Neither the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission require animal testing for cosmetics or household products. There is sufficient existing safety data as well as in vitro alternatives to render animal testing for these products obsolete. While it is true that virtually every ingredient, even water, has been tested on animals in the past, we can help prevent future animal testing.
The Myth, if a product isn’t tested on animals, it might not be safe for humans.
The Fact…
Not so! There are many reliable alternatives to animal testing, including cell and tissue cultures and sophisticated computer and mathematical models. Companies can also formulate products using ingredients already determined to be safe. Cruelty-free companies can use a combination of methods to ensure safety, such as employing in vitro tests and / or conducting clinical studies on humans.
The Myth, it’s hard to find products that really are cruelty-free.
The Fact…
Quite the contrary! More and more companies are joining the Leaping Bunny programme each month. The scheme now boasts over 2,000 companies including some very well-known brands and organisations.
Bath House has always believed in creating beauty with integrity. Our dedication to ethical practices, sustainable sourcing and natural ingredients is at the core of our brand, so achieving Leaping Bunny assurance is a testament to our promise and commitment to helping end animal testing.
We thank our incredible team and loyal customers for supporting us on this journey. Together, we can make a difference and promote a kinder, more beautiful world.
