How to Buy Cruelty-Free Products

Many people decide to live cruelty-free--they avoid buying products tested on animals or made with animal products or by-products. Some also go vegetarian and don't eat meat, and others go vegan and abstain from eating or using products made with animal products of any kind. There are many degrees of living cruelty-free, so choose the level of commitment you're willing to make.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Decide in advance the degree of cruelty-free living you'd like to pursue. Consider going vegan or vegetarian, or just boycott companies that test on animals and use animal products and by-products and buy organic meats and free range chicken and eggs.
2. Get online and check cruelty-free organization websites. Many list companies that do and do not test on animals or use animal products. Most companies place a cruelty-free label on their products (a rabbit). A surprising number of other companies do not use cruelty-free labels even though they don't test on animals.
3. Go through your home and look for products you currently have that are cruelty-free or not tested on animals. Read the labels and keep a list of cruelty-free companies with you. Get rid of everything else. Give it away or recycle as much as you can.
4. Find replacement brands for the items you need. Start online to find everything from razors to glass cleaner to paper towels. Check with the manufacturer if you're unsure of their policies.
5. Go shopping. Buy online or go to your local health food or whole foods store to find a variety of cruelty-free products. If you're on a budget, go to discount stores and carefully read the labels to find the cruelty-free items you're looking for.
6. Realize that you can only do your best. In some cases, it's impossible to buy cruelty-free. You may need pharmaceuticals that are tested on animals, have furniture made with materials including animal by products, or you may eat a processed food containing animal by-products by accident. Just be alert and learn as much as you can before you buy and you'll be well on your way to living cruelty free.