Organic and Vegan Cosmetics Gaining Popularity
Levent Kahrıman, General Director of Laber Organik, explained the definitions of vegan products and animal testing: "A cosmetic product that is vegan does not contain any animal or animal-derived inputs. If a product contains ingredients such as honey, beeswax, lanolin, collagen, albumin, carmine, or gelatin, it would be incorrect to claim that the product is vegan. For this reason, plant-based alternatives to collagen and gelatin in particular have begun to be produced today. Going forward, we will see these alternative products more frequently in product formulations," he said.
Kahrıman stated, "Instead of conducting tests on animals to develop and assess the safety of new, untested components in cosmetic products, innovative products can be created using thousands of existing ingredients that have a safe history of use and require no additional testing. Moreover, the use of in vitro and other non-animal testing methods, modern testing approaches such as sophisticated computer models, provide faster, cheaper, and more effective results compared to animal testing. The fact is, we are a vital part of the solution.
We continue our efforts to support laws that need to be changed and bans on animal testing. Many of us assume that when we see the word "vegan," the product has not been tested on animals. However, vegan products may still be tested on animals. Therefore, consumers can follow the lists regularly published by organizations such as PETA and Cruelty Free International. As a company, we are committed to sustainable production that respects the environment and living things.
Our products consist of organically certified, vegan products that have not been tested on animals and are safe for consumer use. These PETA-accredited products attract considerable interest both domestically and internationally," he said.
Pointing out that consumers should check the certification when purchasing products labeled as organic, Kahrıman noted: "People can confuse natural and organic products. In this regard, organic cosmetics emerge as safe cosmetics. To label a product as organic, it must be produced through organic farming and be certified. In addition, natural products can be considered natural by containing as little as 0.1 percent plant-based content, whereas for organic cosmetics to obtain certification, they must be obtained through certified organic farming and contain at least 20 percent plant-based content," he said.
Kahrıman continued: "In recent years, organic cosmetics have become increasingly common worldwide and in our country. People are now showing a tendency to use products that are not harmful to the planet, nature, humanity, animals, and plants, with consideration for others. These trends are particularly evident among Generation Y and Generation Z. As a brand that prioritizes sustainability, supports agriculture and farmers, generates its own energy, and offers innovative products, we are intensifying our investments and research and development activities. We are engaged in efforts to make our country one of the dominant forces in this market," he said.
Noting that animal testing for cosmetics is officially banned in 40 countries, Kahrıman stated: "China mandates that all cosmetic products be tested on animals. However, cosmetics legislation has been amended to eliminate some of these requirements. In 2014, China allowed companies producing "ordinary" cosmetics (such as shampoo or mascara) domestically to avoid animal testing for their products, while still requiring animal testing for imported products.
In 2021, it amended its regulations again to enable some companies to import regular cosmetic products into the country without the need for animal testing.
In the European Union, the ban on animal testing and the sale of cosmetic products obtained through such testing took effect in 2013. India, Israel, Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland have enacted similar laws. California, Illinois, and Nevada, as well as Australia, Colombia, Guatemala, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, and some states in Brazil, have enacted laws banning or restricting cosmetic animal testing. As a result, cosmetic companies conducting animal testing in the United States and abroad cannot sell their products in these countries unless they change their practices," he concluded.
