Is L’Occitane Cruelty-free and Vegan?

L’Occitane is a manufacturing and cosmetics company that specializes in skincare. It was founded in 1995. They are located at 1430 Broadway, 2nd Floor, New York, in the United States. L’Occitane sells its products worldwide.

Is L’Occitane Cruelty-Free?

L’Occitane is not cruelty-free. A while back, consumers had no way of determining the cruelty-free status of a product. All the consumers had to rely on were the respective companies’ official statements.

The official statements were sometimes vague or misleading. Today, you can quickly tell the cruelty-free status of a brand by considering the following criteria:

• None of their ingredients, formulations, or final products are tested on animals
• The ingredients used in their products should be free from animal-based sources
• They do not allow third parties and suppliers to test their products on animals for them
• The company does not sell its products in stores in the People’s Republic of China
• They do not sell in any country where the law demands animal testing

After thorough research and analysis of the brand and their products, we found out that some of their products contain animal-derived ingredients. Hence, the brand is not vegan.

They also sell their products in countries where animal testing is mandatory.

Are L’Occitane Products Tested On Animals?

L’Occitane claims that they do not test their ingredients or products on animals during any stage of development. However, the company allows for their products to be tested on animals in countries where the law demands it.

The following is their statement regarding animal testing:

The above statement means that they allow their products to be tested on animals to sell in a particular country.

Are L’Occitane Products Sold In China?

Yes, L’Occitane products are sold in China. For a company to sell in the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese authorities need to try their products on animals to ensure that they are safe.

The laws allow for post-market testing, whereby products are taken off the shelf to be re-tested on animals if a complaint is made on that product.

Numerous countries worldwide have banned animal testing. However, China still clings on to it despite there being alternative ways of ensuring a product’s safety.

For this very reason, many companies do not market their products in stores in China.

Unfortunately, L’Occitane is not one of them. Companies that sell their products in stores in the People’s Republic of China are not cruelty-free.

Do L’Occitane Products Have Any Cruelty-Free Certifications?

We looked for any cruelty-free certifications that L’Occitane may have, but we could not find any. It is doubtful that a company that allows their products to be tested on animals would have any cruelty-free certifications.

L’Occitane can be found on PETA’s website among the ‘companies that test on animals’ list.

L’Occitane is recognized as a company that tests on animals, and the company sells in countries where the products have to be tested on animals for sale.

Does L’Occitane Have a Parent Company?

Yes, L’Occitane is owned by L’Occitane Groupe S.A. They specialize in fragrances, face products, and body products. L’Occitane Groupe was founded by Olivier Baussan in 1976 and is headquartered in Manosque, France.

The company was created to preserve tradition and to celebrate his native place of origin. L’Occitane means ‘the Occitan woman.’ It was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2010.

Is L’Occitane Vegan?

For a product to be considered vegan, the formulations, ingredients, and final products have to be free from animal-derived ingredients.

This includes animal by-products like beeswax and honey. Vegan-friendly products are also cruelty-free, as using ingredients from animals is a form of animal cruelty.

L’Occitane is not 100% vegan. Some of their products contain animal-derived ingredients. When purchasing their products, look out for the ingredients list to see what the products contain.

You can also check for any certifications the brand may have. Look for credentials from well-known animal rights organizations.

Summary

L’Occitane is a cosmetics company that sells body, hand, and skincare products. The company allows their products to be tested on animals even though they claim not to test on animals.

Their products are sold in the People’s Republic of China, where the Chinese authorities require them to be tried on animals before being allowed into the market. L’Occitane products are on PETA’s ‘tests on animals’ list.