Ever notice that little bunny on the back of your eSalon products? Well, it’s not just a cute symbol — it’s Leaping Bunny’s signature seal of approval. Found on all of our hair care products, this sticker signifies that no animals are harmed in the making of our products so that our clients can feel even better about supporting our brand. And while this seal may seem small, it has a major impact on the beauty industry as a whole. 

To learn more about Leaping Bunny, their impact, and how eSalon proudly continues to be Leaping Bunny certified, read on.

About the Cruelty-Free Movement

Pioneered by women, the cruelty-free movement began in the early 1800s and continues to have a prominent role in how we shop to this day. Along with other animal-friendly innovators, their combined efforts led to the evolution of an organized movement made up of several anti-vivisection societies.

By the mid-1990s, the popularity of shopping for animal-friendly products was on the rise. This conscious shift in consumers resulted in certain companies presenting confusing, unsubstantiated claims and misleading definitions of “cruelty-free” and “animal-friendly” without the participation of third-party animal protection groups. This resulted in a muddled understanding of what it truly meant for a product or brand to be cruelty-free.

In 1996, the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) formed the Leaping Bunny Program to promote a single comprehensive standard of what it means to be considered cruelty-free. The internationally recognized Leaping Bunny Logo represents this clear, concrete standard and can be found on all Leaping Bunny certified products. 

To this day, Leaping Bunny is an industry leader that works alongside 2,225 companies (and counting) to help make shopping for cruelty-free products easier, more trustworthy, and more transparent for consumers. To get the most up-to-date list of certified cruelty-free companies and news from Leaping Bunny, download their newly launched Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide App.

How does this affect eSalon’s hair care products?

Companies looking to become Leaping Bunny certified must comply with the Leaping Bunny Standard. This includes pledging to end animal testing at all stages of product development in addition to recommitting to the program annually and being open to third-party audits. 

The Leaping Bunny Standard also states companies looking to display the Leaping Bunny logo must adhere to the following:

- The company does not and shall not conduct, commission, or be a party to animal testing of any cosmetic and/or household products including, without limitation, formulations and ingredients of such products.

- The company does not and shall not purchase any ingredient, formulation, or product from any third-party manufacturer or supplier that conducted, commissioned, or had been party to animal testing on said ingredient, formulation, or product.

- The company must implement a supplier monitoring system.

- The company shall not allow animal testing to be performed by or for submission to regulatory agencies in foreign countries.

At eSalon, not only do we assure all of our hair care products are cruelty-free but we also make sure this extends to our supply chain. All of our vendors must sign declarations that confirm they are also certified cruelty-free, further ensuring that any ingredients used in our products have not undergone animal testing and are truly cruelty-free.

Being a Leaping Bunny certified and a cruelty-free company is extremely important to the core of our values at eSalon. Our transparent initiatives are built to work towards a better future for us all, including our furry friends! To learn more about Leaping Bunny and their work, check out their website or join the conversation on social.