Bunny Search aggregates 9 independent cruelty-free and vegan certification sources. Here's exactly who each one is, what their criteria are, and how they decide whether to list a brand.
Each certification body has its own definition of "cruelty-free" and applies different criteria. PETA accepts a signed statement of assurance. Leaping Bunny requires supplier monitoring and on-going audits. NATRUE certifies under broader natural-cosmetics standards. ECOCERT focuses on organic and natural ingredients. The Compassionate Shopping Guide includes some brands the larger lists don't.
By cross-referencing all of them, Bunny Search can show you when sources agree (high confidence) and when they disagree (so you can apply your own standard). No single source covers every brand or every situation.
PETA's "Beauty Without Bunnies" program lists companies that have signed PETA's statement of assurance regarding their animal-testing practices. Companies attest that they don't test on animals, don't pay others to do so, and don't sell in markets that require animal testing.
PETA's companion list of companies it has flagged as not having committed to ending animal testing under its criteria. A brand may appear here because it sells in markets requiring animal testing, hasn't documented its practices to PETA, or maintains policies that PETA considers permissive.
Run by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics. Considered one of the strictest cruelty-free certifications: requires supplier monitoring across the entire supply chain, an annual recommitment, and is open to independent audit.
Operates the Leaping Bunny program internationally. Same Leaping Bunny logo and standard, applied to the European, UK, and broader international market. Requires the same supplier-monitoring and audit framework.
An independent watchdog blog that maintains its own multi-tier list: cruelty-free, vegan, grey area (where the brand's status is ambiguous or evolving), and animal-tested. Ethical Elephant's "grey area" tag is uniquely useful for brands whose status has changed or is contested.
UK-based guide maintained by the Naturewatch Foundation. Lists cruelty-free companies and notes whether each offers vegan options. Includes some smaller, UK-centric brands that don't appear in the larger US lists.
Tracks brands that have committed to eliminating child labor and unsafe conditions in mica supply chains. Mica is widely used in cosmetics for shimmer; the initiative addresses ethical sourcing distinct from animal-testing concerns. Bunny Search includes this signal because users increasingly care about both.
French organic-certification body. ECOCERT's Cosmos Organic and Natural standards certify cosmetics under organic, natural, and ecologically responsible criteria. The standard precludes most animal-tested ingredients and finished products.
European natural and organic cosmetics standard. Certifies products that meet NATRUE's strict criteria for ingredient quality, sustainable sourcing, and absence of animal testing. Cruelty-free is intrinsic to the standard.
Bunny Search re-syncs from each source's published list periodically. Original lists are maintained by those organizations — Bunny Search mirrors and structures their data. Each brand page links the original source so any individual entry can be verified.
To report a discrepancy or suggest a new source, email [email protected].
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