How to Live a Cruelty-Free Life

Living a cruelty-free life is most often defined as avoiding animal-based products as much as possible, as well as avoiding manufactured items that are tested on animals.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Leather Alternatives
• Vegan Diet
• Vegan Food
• Cruelty-free Products

1. Go vegan. The best way to begin a cruelty-free life is to not eat animal-based foods, including eggs and dairy products.

2. Buy products that say they are cruelty-free. This means they have not been tested on animals. Read the labels. This includes cosmetics, toiletries, household cleaners and laundry products.

3. Avoid buying anything not labeled cruelty-free unless you know for a fact that the manufacturer does not test on animals.

4. Use leather alternatives. They've come a long way, and many look and feel like the real thing.

5. Avoid anything made of real fur. This includes clothing and novelty items. Pet toys are sometimes made with real fur. Check before you buy.

6. Read labels carefully. Animal-derived ingredients appear when least expected. Collagen, for example, is normally derived from animals.

7. Look it up. If you're unsure about the origin of an ingredient, there are several books on the market to assist consumers in deciphering ingredients. You can also find relevant information on Web sites.

8. Stick with companies that you know do not use animal-derived ingredients and do not test their products on animals.

9. Avoid down products. Synthetics are very advanced now and tend to be warmer, lighter and less allergenic than goose or duck down.

10. Accept the fact that you can't avoid all animal products. For example, you may buy a chair that was manufactured using glue made partially from an animal-based ingredient.

11. Do the best you can.

Tips & Warnings

• There are hundreds of companies making everything from hair dye to shoe polish that do not test their products on animals. Many also do not use animal-derived ingredients in their products. In addition to being cruelty-free, these products tend to be less toxic to both people and the environment.
• Let companies know why you are not using their products. Tell them you only buy cruelty-free products. This will make a difference. More and more companies are getting away from animal testing.

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[olivegreenie]

on 10/10/2008 Going cruelty-free is not hard at all, it's a matter of changing the way you buy things and being aware of things you buy. Cruelty-free Shampoos, makeup, household products, and personal products are not available in most stores such as Trader Joe's and Wholefoods. Why put products on your body or in your house that's loaded with chemicals? IT'S BAD FOR your health and skin as well as it's killing animals! Live a Cruelty-free life!

[Georgie78]

on 3/11/2007 Avoid ALL Procter & Gamble products (like olay, herbal essences, fairy liquid etc) as they are very much into animal testing. Check the back of products for their name. Visit their website for the full list of what to avoid. Visit BUAV- (The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection)this organisation has a list of companies in the UK, EU and US that don't test on animals. Web address is www.buav.org.

on 8/9/2006 Eucerin may not be tested on animals, but it sure has a animal derived product, it's called Urea, which is cow urine. So if you see that on the back included in ingredients, you might want to rethink about what you are really putting on your face.

on 12/12/2005 Living cruelty-free is sometimes a conscious decision to live with a bit more inconvenience for the sake of the greater good. Is your convenience in buying a down sleeping bag worth all the animals that suffer and die to produce such products? There are many great synthetics that are at least as warm and light as down, if you care enough to look for them.

While on the subject, if you camp, hike, or climb, do so responsibly! For example, choose a smaller peak to climb and carry all your gear (and your garbage) with you. Not only is it better for the environment, the wildlife on the mountain, and the climbers who come after you, but you'll feel great knowing you climbed a mountain with no one else's help. See the website of Clif Bars for more information on friendly hiking practices (no, I don't work for them).

on 11/22/2005 To go cruelty-free we need to stop wearing silk. Silkworms (while they are alive in their shell) are boiled to death just for a shiny yarn to make a beautiful but shameful fabric for fashion. So stop wearing silk!