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You’re here because you want to know the answer to “Is Burt’s Bees cruelty-free?” and you’re at the right place. We at Conscious Bunny do thorough research to discover everything about a brand, including whether Burt’s Bees is cruelty-free, vegan, and/or sustainable, and also whether it’s clean, fragrance-free, and/or paraben-free.
Let’s face it: The world of cruelty-free, vegan, and clean beauty can be a bit of a maze and even misleading. Green-washing, faking logos, and using deceiving terms are still common today. It’s our mission to cut through the noise because we believe you deserve to make choices based on facts, not fluff.
Is Burt’s Bees Cruelty-Free?
Yes, Burt’s Bees is cruelty-free and does not test its products on animals nor do they ask others to do so on their behalf.
Is Burt’s Bees Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
Burt’s Bees is Burt’s Bees is owned by The Clorox Company, a corporation that is NOT cruelty-free because they allow their other brands to test on animals.
You might be wondering why this is important information. Now, here’s the thing: many of these parent companies aren’t cruelty-free themselves because they do some level of animal testing. And, to complicate matters, they might own a bunch of brands that also aren’t cruelty-free.
No immediate worries, though; some of the brands under these parent companies are proudly cruelty-free and have really strict policies against animal testing. So, you can still find ethically conscious options within these bigger brand families.
We do like to mention this because some consumers don’t buy from cruelty-free brands with an animal testing parent company. We respect everyone’s choice in this!
Is Burt’s Bees Cruelty-Free Certified?
Burt’s Bees is certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny and PETA. Companies can be fully cruelty-free without being certified, but the certifications are a good indicator of their ethical practices.
Is Burt’s Bees Sold In China?
Burt’s Bees is not sold where animal testing is required by law. However, they’re part of the Leaping Bunny China Qualification Program and have confirmed that it only sells general cosmetics in China under the supervision of Leaping Bunny’s standards.
China has mandatory animal testing policies for certain imported cosmetic products. To comply with these regulations, some brands choose to sell their products in physical stores in China, where animal testing may occur.
Starting in 2023, brands will be able to enter China without animal testing, so companies can now enter the Chinese market without funding animal cruelty. However, not every brand can 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.
In addition, this doesn’t mean that China completely banned animal testing—it didn’t. If a brand wants to test on animals, it’s still possible to do so in China. While it’s great that China is slowly relaxing its animal testing laws, I just want to warn you that it doesn’t mean that all brands sold in China are now cruelty-free.
We’re in a quite vague phase, which makes shopping cruelty-free a little harder. However, brands selling in China don’t have to be an immediate no-no anymore.
Is Burt’s Bees Vegan?
Burt’s Bees is not 100% vegan, meaning that some of their products contain animal-derived ingredients.
If you want to learn more about vegan beauty products, check out our What Makes A Beauty Product Vegan guide or our List Of 13 Vegan Ingredients In Beauty Products.
Is Burt’s Bees Considered A Clean Beauty Brand?
Let’s start with a little background on what exactly “clean” means. The term “clean beauty” is controversial because it isn’t regulated; this means that brands can slap ‘clean,’ ‘green,’ ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ on their products whenever they want.
How I personally approach “clean beauty” is the same as Goop explains it: clean beauty products are those made without ingredients shown or suspected to harm human health, animal health, or the environment.
Yes, Burt’s Bees is considered a clean beauty brand. All their products are over 95% natural origin, without phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, or sodium lauryl sulfate.
What Are Harmful Ingredients?
Sadly, there are quite a few (actually… thousands) of harmful ingredients or ingredients that are suspected to be harmful to humans, animals, and/or the environment. Here are some of the most frequently used ingredients:
Ingredient | Concerns |
Parabens | Potential hormone disruption, allergenic potential |
Phthalates | Reproductive and developmental issues |
Formaldehyde | Skin irritation, potential carcinogenic effects |
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) | Skin irritation, oil-stripping potential |
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) | Skin irritation, oil-stripping potential |
Synthetic Fragrances | Allergenic potential, often not fully disclosed |
Ingredient Deep-Dive
At Conscious Bunny, we prioritize transparency and inclusivity in pursuing cruelty-free, vegan, and clean beauty. We understand that living with allergies can be challenging, so we are committed to providing thorough information about the ingredients, in addition to mentioning whether they are cruelty-free, vegan or clean.
We aim to create a welcoming space where everyone can confidently explore and enjoy beauty products that align with their values and meet their specific needs.
Is Burt’s Bees Fragrance-Free?
Burt’s Bees is not fragrance-free. The majority of fragrances in Burt’s Bees products are natural, composed of proprietary blends of essential oils and natural extracts. Some of their heritage and other products contain partially synthetic fragrances.
Is Burt’s Bees Paraben-Free?
Burt’s Bees is paraben-free. All their products are formulated without phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, or sodium lauryl sulfate.
Is Burt’s Bees Gluten-Free?
No, Burt’s Bees is not gluten-free. Its products may have been manufactured on a shared line with products containing gluten or the raw materials used in the products may have been processed in a facility that also processes products containing gluten.
Is Burt’s Bees Nut-Free?
No, Burt’s Bees is not nut-free. Its products may have been manufactured on a shared line with products containing raw materials used in the products may have been processed in a facility that also processes products containing nuts.
Is Burt’s Bees Soy-Free?
No, Burt’s Bees is not soy-free. Its products may have been manufactured on a shared line with products containing raw materials used in the products may have been processed in a facility that also processes products containing soy.
Is Burt’s Bees Sustainable?
Burt’s Bees is committed to sustainability. They show this through their packaging is recyclable curbside or through TerraCycle. They use recycled materials and choose easily recycled plastics.
In addition, since 2010, they’ve kept all of their operational waste out of landfills, diverting it to compost bins, recycling centers, or waste-to-energy facilities.
How To Find Out If A Brand Is Cruelty-Free And/Or Vegan Yourself?
The easiest way to tell if a brand is cruelty-free and vegan is to look for third-party certification. Several organizations, such as Cruelty-Free International, PETA, and Leaping Bunny, offer cruelty-free certifications for companies that have agreed to adhere to their strict guidelines for animal testing.
Similarly, the Vegan Society provides a Vegan Trademark to companies that do not use any animal-derived ingredients in their products. Look for these certifications as a sign that a brand is truly cruelty-free and vegan.
It’s also important to look beyond the label. Many companies may claim to be cruelty-free and vegan but may not actually adhere to those standards. Check the company’s website for information about their animal testing policies and ingredients, or ask the brand the following questions:
Questions |
Does your brand test products or ingredients on animals? |
Do the companies you get your supplies from, test on animals? How do you ensure they don’t? |
Are there any other companies that test on animals for you? |
Do you test on animals when the law says you have to? |
In which countries can you find your products in physical stores (not counting online sales)? |
Moreover, they may be able to recommend alternative cruelty-free and vegan brands that meet your needs. By following these steps, you can determine if a brand is truly cruelty-free and vegan. If you would like more information and tips, check out this cruelty-free makeup and skincare guide.
With more and more companies offering animal-friendly products, it’s easier than ever to find cruelty-free and vegan products that fit your lifestyle.