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If you’re wondering, “Is Korres 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 Korres 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 Korres Cruelty-Free?
Yes, Korres is cruelty-free. The brand states, “We are strictly against animal testing and do not test any ingredients or products on animals, nor do we hire outside companies to do so for us at any stage in production. We do not sell to countries requiring animal testing and follow the European Union’s strict legislation that bans animal testing on finished cosmetic products and their ingredients.”
Is Korres Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
Korres is not owned by any parent company that tests on animals.
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 Korres Cruelty-Free Certified?
Yes, Korres is certified by PETA.
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 Korres Sold Where Animal Testing Is Required By Law?
Korres has confirmed they do not sell their products in retail stores in mainland China; therefore, they are not required to test on animals.
The brand’s statement: “We launched in China, but we can distribute in China without animal testing. We are selling online only and via Hong Kong (cross-border), so the animal testing policies are not applicable. We still maintain our policy as a cruelty-free brand.“
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 Korres Vegan?
Korres is not 100% vegan, meaning some of its products contain animal-derived ingredients. Yes, the vast majority of our products are suitable for vegetarians and/or vegans.
Our clean formulas are plant-based and inspired by the natural Greek landscape. Under the details section of each product page, you’ll find the content for each formulation and whether or not it is suitable for you.
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 Korres Clean?
Yes, Korres is quite a clean beauty brand. The brand has an ever-growing list of 2,000+ commonly used ingredients and chemicals that they avoid using, including parabens, phthalates an formalhyde. However, I did find phenoxyethanol in most of their products and some products contained tar, titanium dioxide and acrylate.
These ingredients aren’t considered clean in our eyes. The reason why I still call Korres a clean brand is because they’ve removed most of the harmful chemicals from their products. If any of the ingredients above is a problem to you, don’t use Korres products.
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 Korres Fragrance-Free?
No, Korres is not fragrance-free.
Is Korres Paraben-Free?
Yes, Korres is paraben-free.
Is Korres Gluten-Free?
No, Korres is not gluten-free. Their statement: “The simple answer is no, but be sure to check the details section under each product to see the content of each formulation and whether the product is gluten-free, made with wheat-derived ingredients or may contain traces of wheat.”
Is Korres Nut-Free?
No, Korres 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 Korres Soy-Free?
No, Korres 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 Korres 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.
Korres is conscious. This is based on the following:
Where Is Korres Made?
Korres is made in Greece—which is their home and inspiration. The Greek landscape is filled with unique, wild flora that has grown and been used for traditional remedies for thousands of years.
Through a Full Circle™ seed-to-skin journey, the brand carefully transports each seed, fruit, or bloom to their six labs to be extracted, formulated, and ultimately returned to the soil as organic fertilizer.
Is Korres Sustainable?
Korres is committed to sustainability. The brand focuses on ethical sourcing and cooperations. Korres works with over 30 local micro-farmers and 5 agricultural unions in Greece. They support them financially, scientifically, and technically, promoting organic farming and conserving biodiversity, including endangered species.
Korres uses natural solvents only. Solid residue from the extraction process is composted and used as organic fertilizer, while liquid residue is treated and returned to the water stream, making it a zero-waste operation. The aim is to extract and isolate active herbal ingredients for high-quality, clinically effective extracts.
The company has a “Return Your Empties” program to collect packaging waste from customers, which is then recycled. Plastic is turned into recycled bottles or functional items, and empty bottles are transformed into new recycled bottles. A processing line sorts, washes, melts, and molds these materials into beautiful objects given to consumers as rewards.
Paper is reused to create merchandising, furniture, recycled gift boxes, and more. Glass is continually recycled and reused. Korres’ Recycle Lab is focused on sustainability and giving back, promoting a cleaner planet and living in harmony with nature.
Is Korres Socially Responsible?
Korres is socially responsible to their community. The brand works with local farmers, as part of their ongoing effort to help the community. A conscious decision to work with them instead of farming the ingredients themselves.
Opting for small and local farmers who grow together with the brand, in areas that need the support most. Korres has established a network of micro-farmers and agricultural cooperatives through contractual farming that generates income for over 10,000 people in total.
Is Korres B Corp Certified?
Korres is not B Corp Certified. However, a brand can still be conscious without this certification.
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 Korres. 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: