For a company that doesn’t sell products in stores, Avon seems to be everywhere. It’s intrusively promoted online and on the streets, by representatives who approach everyone they pass by. The catalogs are given out in smaller shops and posted through the door.
With so many women getting involved in partnerships with this company, my heart breaks a little every time I see them, knowing that these women, most likely, are not aware of the fact that they represent and support such a non cruelty-free brand.
In a nutshell:
- Tested on animals where required by law? Yes
- Sold in China? Yes
- Certified? No
- Parent company? No
- Vegan? No
Statement
Avon dedicated an entire separate website to outline their corporate responsibility including their ‘respect for Animal Welfare.
I have to admit, the document is written in a way that even I almost believed they actually respect animals. If I didn’t know that the Chinese retail market is worth £3 billion annually (and is growing), I could have fallen for it.
Their animal testing policy starts with a standard intro explaining how much they respect animals and haven’t used them in testing testing for 25 years. Typical.
… Avon was the first major cosmetic company to end animal testing nearly 25 years ago and we do not test on animals today. Instead, we use non-animal product safety testing methods.
Great. But that’s not all:
“Unfortunately, a few countries require additional safety testing, which may include animal testing. Avon, in partnership with other organizations, works to help advance government acceptance of alternative non-animal testing methods. But if a compromise cannot be reached, we must comply with the testing required by local law. Animal testing is an issue faced by all global beauty companies.”
Beautifully said indeed, but the most effective way of advancing the government acceptance of cruelty-free testing methods, should be cutting them off the profits the cosmetic company offers.
In fact, quitting the market is the only way of saying a solid “No” to animal testing.
The alleged PETA certification
Whilst Avon used to be PETA certified, it eventually lost the certification when PETA found out that Avon products are in fact sold in China.
It has been discovered that Avon made a change to their trade strategy by entering the Chinese market without letting anyone know about it. They haven’t even changed their animal testing policy until PETA demasked the truth.
What does it all mean?
In my eyes, Avon is yet another company who misleads their customers by delicate PR talk.
Although Avon may not conduct animal testing themselves, they approve and pay for animal testing when it’s mandatory by law.
If Avon truly respected animals (as they claim they do), they would escape the Chinese market as long as tests on animals are required.
Conslusion: AVON is not Cruelty-Free
Avon is on my red list of companies that are not cruelty-free.
