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If you’re wondering, “Is ELEMIS cruelty-free?” you’ve come to the right place. At Conscious Bunny, we’re dedicated to providing thorough and reliable information about various brands. We research whether ELEMIS is cruelty-free, vegan, clean, and conscious. Additionally, we examine if a brand is sustainable, contributes to the community, and considers allergens in its products.
The world of cruelty-free, vegan, and clean beauty can be complex. With so many unregulated terms and labels, it can be challenging to know what to trust. Our mission is to make it easier for you by providing clear, fact-based insights. We delve into the details so you can make informed choices with confidence.
By relying on our comprehensive research, you can be sure you’re supporting brands aligning with your values. We believe in transparency and aim to empower you with the knowledge you need to choose products that are genuinely cruelty-free and conscious.
Is ELEMIS Cruelty-Free?
No, ELEMIS is not cruelty-free. The brand allows its products to be tested on animals when required by law, including when selling in stores in mainland China.
Is ELEMIS Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
ELEMIS is owned by a parent company that tests on animals. The parent company is L’Occitane.
In the beauty industry, brands are often owned by larger parent companies like L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, or Procter & Gamble, many of which conduct animal testing to some extent.
While most parent companies are not cruelty-free, some of the brands they own adhere to strict policies against animal testing. This means that brands under these parent companies are still cruelty-free.
However, this gives you as a consumer two choices: You can choose not to support these brands because they’re part of a bigger, animal-testing parent company, or you can choose to support them because they are 100% cruelty-free even though their parent company is not.
We personally believe that since these brands operate independently from the parent company, you can support them as they’re cruelty-free. However, a small group of shoppers choose to boycott brands owned by a parent company that tests on animals.
We don’t mind which option you choose; we want to make it easy for all our readers. That’s why we decided to mention whether or not a parent company is involved.
Is ELEMIS Cruelty-Free Certified?
No, ELEMIS is not certified by any organization.
Companies can be fully cruelty-free without being certified, but certifications are a good indicator of their ethical practices. The most trusted organizations that give out certifications are PETA and Leaping Bunny.
Is ELEMIS Sold Where Animal Testing Is Required By Law?
Yes, ELEMIS is available for sale in countries where animal testing is mandatory. This means that their products were likely tested on animals.
ELEMIS shares on its website that it is a cruelty-free brand even though it sells in China. Their statement is: “As a British brand sold in China, our products are not tested on animals by local authorities in China. There is an agreement in place between the Chinese government and the UK government that exempts British companies from having their products tested on animals.“
This statement is false. There is no formal agreement between the Chinese and UK governments that exempts British cosmetic companies from having their products tested on animals when exporting to China.
However, the UK government has established a system to certify that British cosmetic products meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, which can potentially exempt them from animal testing requirements in China. Read more here. It’s not stated anywhere that ELEMIS has taken steps to meet the preconditions to avoid animal testing while selling in China.
In countries like China, certain cosmetic products may be subject to mandatory animal testing regulations. If a brand wants to sell its products in physical stores in China, it has to comply with these regulations, where animal testing may occur.
Starting in 2023, brands have the opportunity to enter the Chinese market without funding animal cruelty. However, not every brand may qualify. Certain ingredients, products, and claims may still trigger animal tests during the registration process, and post-market testing involving animals, while rare, is still a possibility.
To avoid animal testing in China, companies must meet specific criteria:
- Sell only ‘general’ cosmetics in China (such as makeup, skincare, haircare, nail polish, and perfumes).
- Avoid selling ‘special’ cosmetics like sunscreens or hair dye.
- Refrain from selling products for infants, children, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, or products containing ‘New Cosmetic Ingredients.’
- Have a policy in place to recall products if post-market testing is required rather than allowing them to be tested on animals.
Furthermore, products can avoid animal testing in China if they are manufactured in China or if their final assembly occurs in China. If manufactured outside of China, companies must obtain the proper safety certificates from their country of origin.
Brands that have been selling in China must ensure that all their products meet the exemption criteria while providing the proper safety certificates from specific authorities. This means that many brands currently sold in China may not yet be entirely cruelty-free.
It’s essential to note that while China is gradually relaxing its animal testing laws, it does not mean that all brands sold in China are now cruelty-free. While this phase may raise questions, brands selling in China no longer have to be an immediate no-no for cruelty-free shoppers.
To provide shoppers with extra assurance, Leaping Bunny offers the China Qualification Program, which you can check before purchasing. This program ensures that Leaping Bunny-certified companies selling domestically in China remain cruelty-free.
Is ELEMIS Vegan?
No, ELEMIS is not vegan. This means that some of their products may contain animal-derived ingredients. ELEMIS might offer some vegan products; however, because they’re not cruelty-free, avoiding any products they offer is recommended, even if they are vegan.
A company can have vegan products even if not all their products are vegan. If all their products are vegan, the brand is considered “100% vegan.”
Several organizations, similar to PETA and Leaping Bunny, offer vegan certifications to help you identify vegan brands. For example, Vegan Action, The Vegan Society, and The Vegetarian Society provide a Vegan Trademark to companies that use no animal-derived ingredients.
Check out our 100% Vegan Beauty Brands A-Z list, or use our free Vegan Ingredient Checker to determine whether a specific product contains animal-derived ingredients.
Is ELEMIS Clean?
Yes, ELEMIS is a clean beauty brand. The brand is banning 2000+ potentially harmful ingredients that can cause unnecessary irritation and dryness, including Aluminium, Artificial dyes, Coal Tar, DEA, Formaldehyde, Hydroquinone, Methylisothiazolinone/methylchloroisothiazolinone, Mineral oils, Oxybenzone, Parabens, Phthalates, Retinyl Palmitate, SLS/ SLES, Talc, Triclocarban, and Triclosan.
The term “clean beauty” is controversial because it isn’t regulated; this means that brands can label their products as ‘clean,’ ‘green,’ ‘organic,’ and ‘natural’ without strict guidelines.
For us, clean beauty means choosing products made without ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances that have been shown or even suspected to harm human health, animal health, or the environment.
Check out our Clean Beauty Brands A-Z list, or use our free Clean Ingredients Checker to determine whether a specific product contains toxic ingredients.
Allergens In Beauty Products
Besides letting you know whether a product contains harmful ingredients, we also understand that living with allergies can be tough. That’s why we discuss whether the brand contains any allergens in its products, helping you make informed decisions that suit your individual needs and preferences.
*The information provided is not medical advice. For any health concerns, please consult with your doctor before using the products.
Is ELEMIS Fragrance-Free?
No, ELEMIS is not fragrance-free, but they only use natural, naturally derived, and fine fragrances where possible.
Is ELEMIS Paraben-Free?
ELEMIS is paraben-free.
Is ELEMIS Gluten-Free?
ELEMIS is not fully gluten-free but offers a few gluten-free products.
Is ELEMIS Nut-Free?
No, ELEMIS is not nut-free. The brand does not share any information on the use of nuts in their products, which probably means their products may contain nuts.
Is ELEMIS Soy-Free?
No, ELEMIS is not soy-free. The brand does not share any information on the use of soy in their products, which probably means their products may contain soy.
Is ELEMIS Conscious?
At Conscious Bunny, we’re all about supporting brands that do good. We believe that brands who are conscious show this with their actions in environmental sustainability, ethical sourcing, social responsibility, transparency, and accountability.
For those of us who care about making conscious choices, we’ve done our homework on these topics. We’ve answered the big questions to help you pick products that match your values.
ELEMIS is conscious, except they still let animal testing happen (through other parties or themselves). This is based on the following:
Where Is ELEMIS Made?
All of ELEMIS’ products are developed in the ELEMIS Innovation Hub in London and manufactured in England*, with the highest standards in quality and safety. *A few exceptions apply.
Is ELEMIS Sustainable?
Yes, ELEMIS is committed to sustainability. The brand switched to plastic-free Dynamic Resurfacing pads in 2021, saving 1.3 tonnes of plastic waste annually. By removing spatulas from Pro-Collagen products, an estimated 1.7 tonnes of plastic have been saved. Additionally, all promotional packaging is now fully recyclable, and 12 tonnes of recycled materials (PCR) were included in tubes in 2022.
In 2021, ELEMIS removed leaflets from products, saving 13 tonnes of paper. They source paper and cardboard packaging from certified sustainable forests and use a mix of recycled content. From 2022 onwards, all paper and cardboard will be responsibly sourced for packaging.
The switch from bubble wrap to protective paper wrap for online orders in 2021 saved 11 tonnes of plastic. The brand is also transitioning to more recyclable glass jars across its product ranges.
ELEMIS has moved to 100% renewable energy across offices and warehouses. By 2025, they plan to procure 100% renewable electricity for all operational sites. To become preferred suppliers, suppliers must pass independent sustainability audits and complete an Ecovadis CSR assessment.
Fully recyclable gift packaging has been introduced, and PCR material is used where possible. Recycling instructions have been added to the website for transparency. Environmental purchasing guidelines are established in offices, and teams participate in river, street, and park clean-ups.
By measuring and assessing its carbon footprint, ELEMIS has pledged to halve carbon emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. All packaging is aimed to be recyclable or reusable by the end of 2030. ELEMIS supports local programs to protect and restore biodiversity, with plans to improve the eco-design and recyclability of packaging and formulations.
New rinse-off products will be over 95% biodegradable from 2023, with a goal of 90% of all rinse-off formulas being over 95% biodegradable by 2030. They also aim to trace 90% of plant-based raw materials to their country of origin by 2030, ensuring full traceability of the country of origin for final raw materials by 2023.
Last but not least, ELEMIS is pushing for progress with a B Corp certification and aims to improve the eco-design and recyclability of packaging and formulations, ensure traceability of ingredients, and promote sustainable sourcing.
They support local programs to protect and restore biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions throughout the value chain, and share health, wellness, and sustainability knowledge with communities. ELEMIS promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion, plans to donate 1% of revenue to philanthropy by 2030, and is committed to building a culture of purpose.
Is ELEMIS Socially Responsible?
ELEMIS is socially responsible. The brand became an accredited Living Wage employer in the UK and USA. The company offers employee talks and webinars on mental health, wellbeing, and financial planning. New Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion training and education programs have been launched.
Philanthropic partnerships with The Prince’s Trust, Look Good Feel Better, and Calm UK have grown. All employees receive one day off annually to volunteer for a charity of their choice, and sustainability training has been provided to over 10,000 employees and clients.
Is ELEMIS B Corp Certified?
ELEMIS is B Corp Certified.
When a brand earns B Corp certification, it pledges to consider everyone impacted by its decisions, beyond just its owners. This entails workers, the communities in which they operate, suppliers, consumers, and the environment. This certification can reassure consumers, emphasizing the brand’s dedication to considering the broader impact of its decisions.
Thank You For Being Here!
I hope that this post answered all your questions about ELEMIS. If not, please feel free to leave a comment below or reach out through the contact form. I’m more than happy to help!
Thank you for being here because it means that you are interested in cruelty-free beauty and are educating yourself about this subject. If you’re willing to learn even more, here are some of the resources we provide to help you on your journey: