Leaping Bunny is a certification that helps consumers identify products that have not been tested on animals.
In this article, we will explain what the Leaping Bunny certification is, how to get certified, and provide a list of popular companies that have received the certification. We will also explore the differences between Leaping Bunny and other animal-friendly certifications like PETA Beauty Without Bunnies.
What Is Leaping Bunny?
Leaping Bunny is a non-profit organization that focuses on animal welfare. Leaping Bunny is a certification program run by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC). CCIC was formed in 1996 when 8 leading North-American animal-welfare organizations joined their forces.
These organizations are American Anti-Vivisection Society, Animal Alliance of Canada, Beauty Without Cruelty, Doris Day Animal League, Humane Society of the United States, National Anti-Vivisection Society, and Rise for Animals.
Cruelty-free International (CFI) promotes the Leaping Bunny certification outside of the US.
What is Leaping Bunny Certification?
Leaping Bunny certification is designed to help consumers identify products that have not been tested on animals. The program is internationally recognized, and more than 1,000 companies worldwide have received the certification.
The Leaping Bunny program requires companies to adhere to a strict no-animal-testing standard throughout the entire supply chain. This means that not only are the finished products not tested on animals, but none of the ingredients in the product have been tested on animals either.
Companies must provide signed statements from their suppliers stating that they do not test on animals. In addition, the CCIC conducts independent audits to ensure compliance.
How to Get Leaping Bunny Certified
To get Leaping Bunny certified, companies must visit the Leaping Bunny Program website, where they can find all the necessary information, guidelines, and an application form. Once they have filled out the application, submitted the necessary documentation, and passed the independent audit, they become Leaping Bunny certified.
The rules that companies must follow to become certified by Leaping Bunny:
- The company cannot test any of its cosmetic or household products on animals, nor can it pay anyone else to do so.
- The company cannot purchase any ingredients or products from a third-party supplier who has conducted animal testing after the company’s fixed cut-off date. If a product is found to violate this rule, the company must replace it with a non-animal-tested alternative or remove it from its range.
- The company must have a system in place to monitor its suppliers, ensuring that they comply with the Leaping Bunny standard. The company can either obtain declarations of compliance from each supplier or include specific language in its purchase orders.
- If the company only distributes finished products, it must ensure that its third-party manufacturers also comply with the Leaping Bunny standard and obtain declarations of compliance from their suppliers.
- The company cannot allow animal testing to be conducted for regulatory purposes in foreign countries.
- The company must submit an application to Leaping Bunny and keep a copy of the document at its principal place of business.
- The company must agree to recommit to these standards annually and may be subject to an independent audit commissioned by Leaping Bunny.
Steps companies have to take to become Leaping Bunny certified:
- Provide a signed statement of assurance that neither the company nor any of its suppliers test on animals
- Provide a list of all products and ingredients used in the products
- Allow the CCIC to conduct independent audits to ensure compliance
- Although becoming Leaping Bunny certified is free of charge, if a company chooses to use Leaping Bunny’s logo on its packaging, website, or social media, it can opt to pay a one-time fee based on its gross annual sales, ranging from $500 to $4,500
Is Leaping Bunny Reliable?
A lot of people wonder: can you trust Leaping Bunny? Yes, we believe so. Leaping Bunny is considered one of the most reliable certifications for animal-friendly products.
The certification is backed by several animal protection organizations, including the American Anti-Vivisection Society, the Animal Alliance of Canada, and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments.
Companies that receive the Leaping Bunny certification must meet strict requirements, including that they do not test their products or ingredients on animals and that they allow independent audits to ensure compliance.
Difference Between Leaping Bunny and PETA
While both Leaping Bunny and PETA Beauty Without Bunnies program certifications indicate that a product has not been tested on animals, there are some differences between the two certifications.
The main difference between Leaping Bunny’s and PETA’s cruelty-free standards is that Leaping Bunny’s program requires companies to undergo independent audits through their Supplier Monitoring System and to recommit to their cruelty-free standards annually.
In contrast, PETA’s process involves companies filling out a questionnaire and submitting a statement of assurance signed by the CEO. Both organizations share the goal of ending animal testing, but Leaping Bunny’s program has stricter requirements for companies to maintain their cruelty-free status.
Companies seeking Leaping Bunny’s certification are required to provide evidence that their suppliers adhere to Leaping Bunny’s standards, while PETA does not mandate brands to furnish documents from their suppliers as proof of compliance.
Annually, companies certified by Leaping Bunny are required to reaffirm their commitment to cruelty-free standards. Failure to do so leads to removal from Leaping Bunny’s directory. Moreover, Leaping Bunny maintains a running list of brands that renewed their commitment and those that didn’t. On the other hand, PETA doesn’t mandate a formal renewal process for companies to remain certified.
Does Leaping Bunny Allow Brands to Sell in China?
Yes. However, Leaping Bunny China Qualification Program is quite new.
Until 2018, Leaping Bunny’s policy did not permit certified brands to sell their products in physical stores located in mainland China. In 2018, Leaping Bunny introduced its China Pilot Project which allowed certain brands to sell in China under strict supervision.
Initially, the program was only available to EU brands, but recently, Leaping Bunny expanded its program to include certified companies from the US and Canada. This new initiative enables these companies to sell their products in China while still adhering to Leaping Bunny’s cruelty-free standards and avoiding animal testing.
The primary objective of Leaping Bunny’s China Qualification Program is to prevent companies from conducting animal testing in China. This program ensures that the brands certified by Leaping Bunny do not engage in any pre-market or post-market animal testing in the Chinese market, making it the leading mechanism against animal testing in China.
Vegan Avenue has researched the program thoroughly. You can read more about it in our article “Leaping Bunny China Qualification Program: What Is It And Can We Trust It? (+ Video)”.
Does Leaping Bunny Mean Vegan?
While Leaping Bunny certification indicates that a product has not been tested on animals, it does not necessarily mean that the product is vegan.
The certification does not require companies to use only plant-based ingredients in their products. However, many companies that have received the Leaping Bunny certification are also committed to using only plant-based ingredients and have received additional vegan certifications from other organizations.
See also: Vegan And Cruelty-Free Skincare — Are They The Same?
Popular Companies With Leaping Bunny Certification
Many well-known brands have received Leaping Bunny certification, indicating their commitment to animal welfare and using only cruelty-free ingredients. Here are a few examples. All of these examples also carry a vegan range.
- Garnier
- The Body Shop
- Paula’s Choice
- Alba Botanica
- Tata Harper Skincare
- Burt’s Bees
- CoverGirl
- Dermalogica
- ILIA
- Sun Bum
- Farmacy Beauty
List of Vegan Companies with Leaping Bunny Certification
While Leaping Bunny certification does not guarantee that a product is vegan, many vegan companies have received Leaping Bunny certification. These companies are committed to both animal welfare and using only plant-based ingredients in their products.
As Leaping Bunny has hundreds of certified brands, please note that this is not an exhaustive list and there are many more vegan brands that are Leaping Bunny certified.
- Ace of Air
- Acure
- Alpyn Beauty
- Athar’a Pure
- Bella Vida Santa Barbara
- Bioclarity
- Biossance
- Biossance
- Bkind
- Blissoma
- Boscia
- Curology
- Derma E
- E.l.f.
- Ethique
- Fleur & Bee
- Herbivore Botanicals
- Humanrace
- Love Beauty and Planet
- Mad Hippie
- Milk Makeup
- Mimaami
- MuLondon
- Osea
- OZNaturals
- Pacifica
- Peace Out Skincare
- Pure Culture Beauty
- Simkha Biocosmetics
- Summer Fridays
- Sweet Chef
- The Ordinary
- Three Ships
- Thrive Causemetics
- Versed
- Youth To The People
- Yuni Beauty
FAQ About Leaping Bunny Certification
Leaping Bunny is a certification program designed to help consumers identify products that have not been tested on animals. The program requires companies to adhere to a strict no-animal-testing standard throughout the entire supply chain. This means that not only are the finished products not tested on animals, but none of the ingredients in the product have been tested on animals either. The program is internationally recognized, and more than 1,000 companies worldwide have received the certification.
No. While Leaping Bunny certification indicates that a product has not been tested on animals, it does not necessarily mean that the product is vegan. However, many Leaping Bunny-certified brands are also vegan.
Yes. Leaping Bunny is also considered one of the most reliable certifications for animal-friendly products. Companies that receive the Leaping Bunny certification must meet strict requirements, including that they do not test their products or ingredients on animals and that they allow independent audits to ensure compliance. The certification is also backed by several animal protection organizations.
Although becoming Leaping Bunny certified is free of charge, if a company chooses to use Leaping Bunny’s logo on its packaging, website, or social media, it can opt to pay a one-time fee based on its gross annual sales, ranging from $500 to $4,500
To get Leaping Bunny certified, companies must visit the Leaping Bunny Program website, where they can find all the necessary information, guidelines, and an application form. Once they have filled out the application, submitted the necessary documentation, and passed the independent audit, they become Leaping Bunny certified.
Yes, e.l.f. is Leaping Bunny-certified.
Yes, Garnier is Leaping Bunny-certified.
Summary
Leaping Bunny certification is a useful tool for consumers who want to support companies that are committed to animal welfare and use only cruelty-free ingredients. The certification is backed by several animal protection organizations and requires companies to adhere to a strict no-animal-testing standard throughout the entire supply chain.
While the certification does not guarantee that a product is vegan, many companies that have received Leaping Bunny certification are also committed to using only plant-based ingredients and have received additional vegan certifications.
By supporting companies that have received Leaping Bunny certification, consumers can help create a more ethical and sustainable beauty industry. We hope that more brands will take on the goal to get certified cruelty-free and vegan.
See also: Vegan Beauty Labels, Leaping Bunny China Qualification Program
