The Body Shop and Cruelty Free International brought a record-breaking 8.3 million signatures to the United Nations in New York on October 4th to end cosmetic animal testing globally.

The petition signatures, collected from supporters around the world in just 15 months, call on the countries of the UN to formalize an international framework to end cosmetic animal testing, everywhere and forever.

This comes after celebs, including Maggie Q, won the fight in California to make animal-tested cosmetics illegal — and now, Unilever supports the call for a worldwide ban, marking Dove with PETA’s cruelty-free logo on its packaging.  

The Body Shop was the first international beauty brand to campaign against animal testing in cosmetics, over 30 years ago — and its long-time campaign partner Cruelty Free International, is the first global, non-profit organization dedicated to ending cosmetic product and ingredient testing on animals. The joint effort is the most ambitious campaign ever against cosmetic animal testing and serves as a model to inspire action from businesses, governments and citizens to advance Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG12): Responsible Consumption and Production.

Lise Kingo, executive director of the UN Global Compact, joined The Body Shop to discuss how businesses can do more to engage and mobilise consumers in support of the SDGs.

Although there has been sizable progress, 80 percent of countries still have not made it illegal to test cosmetics on animals. Cruelty Free International estimates that more than 500,000 animals each year are used in cosmetics testing.

The Benefits of Collaborating, To Set New Standards

A global framework is the only way to eliminate animal suffering and create a level playing field around the world. Harmonizing safety testing requirements globally would allow companies to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy and test duplication when accessing international markets.

Not only would a global framework give confidence to companies that they are producing safe and effective cosmetics while meeting consumer demand for truly cruelty-free products, but also, the global framework would align with the United Nation’s vision of a world in which, “humanity lives in harmony with nature and in which wildlife and other species are protected,” The Body Shop explains. 

David Boynton, CEO of The Body Shop, says, “In just 15 months more than 8 million people signed their names in recognition that cosmetic animal testing is outdated and unnecessary. We are determined to finish what Dame Anita Roddick started back in 1989, and today we are at the United Nations to call for collaboration among the cosmetic industry, civil society and governments to finally end cosmetic animal testing everywhere.”

Jessie Macneil-Brown, Global Head of Activism at The Body Shop, adds, “This campaign demonstrates that consumers around the world want to see real change. We look forward to working with UN leaders to make this a reality.”

Michelle Thew, CEO of Cruelty Free International, comments, “A global framework is the only way to truly eliminate animal suffering. The petition demonstrates that across the globe, people want this practice to end.”