Eco Ethics - Cosmetic and Household Products

For this post I want to explore environmentally friendly and ethical cosmetics and household products; I hope to encourage debate regarding their effectiveness, benefits, cost comparisons and availability.

For a number of years now there have been environmentally friendly cleaning products available using natural and sympathetic ingredients that are not detrimental to our environment in their original or processed form.

In addition several companies produce cosmetic products that are also of natural sources and both markets have achieved BUAV approved products, or are against animal testing.

So why are we not all using them?

'The following companies are all approved under the Humane Cosmetics Standard (HCS) and/or the Humane Household Products Standard (HHPS). This means that they no longer conduct or commission animal testing for their cosmetics and/or household products.' (Ref: Go Cruelty Free)

21st Century Health, Afrumos, Alba Botanica, Allens Naturally, Ameleon, Anna Marie's, Aromatherapy & Massage, Arbonne International, Aroma Bella, Aroma Crystal Therapy, Ashambri Skincare, Astonish, Aubrey Organics, Aunt Bee's Skin Care, Auromère, Austin Rose, Avalon, Natural Products, Beauty Without Cruelty (Visage International Partners Ltd), Belisama Bath & Body, Better Botanicals, Bio Pac, Bio-D Company Limited, The, Biogime Skincare, bioKleen, Blooming Lotus, Body Bistro, Body Butter Factory, Body Shop, The, Bonica Natural Body, Care, Bronzo Sensuale, Bug Off, Cactus & Ivy, California North, Camocare, Caswell Massey Co Ltd, Christine Valmy Inc., Citra-Solv, Clear Conscience Inc, Clearly Natural, Clearspring (Faith Products Ltd), Co-op (The Co-Operative Group (CWS) Ltd), Color My Image, Comforts for the Mind, Body & Spirit, Cuccio Naturalé, Daisy Blue Naturals, Dena Corporation, Deodorant Stones of America (DSA), Dermalogica, Desert Mermaid, Devita Natural Skincare Systems, Dickinson Brands, Dolma Vegan Perfumes (Dolma), Dr Ken's (Floss & Go), Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, Dr. Goodpet, Duchess Marden, Earth Alive, Earth Dance Botanical Bodycare, Earth Friendly Products, Earth Solutions, Earth's Beauty, Eco-Dent Elara, Elemental Herbs, Elizabeth Van Buren Aromatherapy, ELON Nail & Skin Essentials, EO Products/Small World Trading Co, Essential Oil Company Ltd, The, Essentially Yours, Face Atelier, Faith in Nature (Faith Products Ltd), Faith Products Ltd (Clearspring/ Faith in Nature), Fleabusters, Forever New International, Freeman Cosmetics, French Transit, Gabriel Cosmetics, Glad Rags, Good Home Company, The, Gourmet Body Treats, Grateful Body, Green Girl Basics, Greenridge Herbals, Greenwood Natural, Grime Eater, Halo Purely for Pets, Hard Candy, Hawaiian Resources Company, Healthy Times Baby's, Herbal Garden, Heather's Natural & Organic Cleaning Products, Hemp Company Ltd, The Herbal Secrets, Hoke 2, Honesty Cosmetics Infinite Aloe, Inky Loves Nature, Innersense, ISH Ionic Rescue, J&D Black Ltd (Hollytrees), Jacki's Magic Lotion, Jason Natural Cosmetics, Jess' Bee Natural Lip Balm, Joe Blasco Cosmetics, JR Liggett, Juice Beauty, Kingfisher Natural Toothpaste, Kirk's Naturals, Kiss My Face, Kobashi Essential Oils, KPL Cosmetics Ltd (Liz Earle Cosmetics), KSA Jojoba, Lakon Herbals, Lather, Lip-Ink International, Little Forest Natural Baby Products, Liz Earle Cosmetics (KPL Cosmetics Ltd), Lobob, London Oil Refining Company Ltd, The (Astonish), Lotus Moon, Louise Bianco, Love The Planet, Maggie's Pure Land Products, Magick Botanicals, Make-Up International (Face To Face), Marks & Spencer, Mary Kay, Max Green Alchemy, Meadowsweet, Medical Express (UK) Ltd (Montague Jeunesse), Mère Cie, Method Products, Mi Amore Skincare, LLC, Mia Rose, Montagne Jeunesse, Montague Jeunesse (Medical Express (UK) Ltd), Moor Spa International Ltd (Moor), Mountain Ocean, My Lip Stuff,
Mystic Wonders Inc, Nadina's Cremes, Naikid, Nail Aid, NakedHerbs, LLC, Naturade Inc, Natural By Nature Oils, Nature Clean, Nature's Gate, Nature's Soap Dish, Naturopathica, Neal's Yard Remedies, New Vision, Nick & Milly, NutriBiotic, ONLY YOUR Skin Care, Oracle Organics, Orange Mate, Organic Health and Beauty, Organic Make-up Company, The, OrganixSouth, Orjene Organics, Osea International, Parissa, Paul Mitchell, Pittstown Soapworks, Planet Inc., Pro-Tec Pet Health, Pure Touch, PureOlogy, Queen Helene, Quinessence Aromatherapy, Rachel Perry, Recycline, Red Star Hand Crafted Soaps, Rejuvi, Renée Rouleau Skin Care, Saltworks, Sappo Hill Soapworks, Scandia Spa, Sea Chi Organics, Sedona Spa Products, Seventh Generation, Sewing Expressions, Shaman Earthly Organics, Shikai, Simplers Botanical Company, Simply Soap, Soap Opera, The, Sombra Cosmetics, Sonoma Soap, Sound Earth, LLC, Spring Rain Botanicals, St. John's Herb Garden, Strong Products, Suki, Suma Foods (Triangle Wholefoods Collective Ltd), Sunfeather Natural Soap Company, The Co-Operative Group (CWS) Ltd (Co-op), Tom's of Maine, Too Faced Cosmetics, Triangle Wholefoods Collective Ltd (Suma Foods), Un-petroleum Lip Care, Unicure, Urban Decay, V'TAE, Vermont Soapworks, Visage International Partners Ltd (Beauty Without Cruelty), W.S. Badger, Warm Earth Cosmetics, Well In Hand, Whole Spectrum Aromatherapy, Wholefood Farmacy, Xeno Company, ZuZu Luxe.

To find out more about these companies including their websites follow this link.

In addition there is a wide range of companies promoting fair trade and environmentally friendly products. For examples please see The Green Providers Directory and the Living Ethically Website.

Please take a moment to view the poll questions relating to this post and indicate your point of view by marking any or multiple statements that apply to you, or if you wish leave me a comment. I am keen to explore points of view and perception of this issue.

I intend to publish the results of this poll to BUAV and the WSPA; the information will be statistical data only and not relating to any one particular individual.

My thanks for your time and consideration.