Let’s look into the Old Spice brand’s current animal testing policy and cruelty-free status in 2021.
Is Old Spice Cruelty-Free?
Are Old Spice products cruelty free? NO! Old Spice is sold in China, a country where testing on animals is required by law and the sale of products in the Chinese market is proof that Old spice is not cruelty free.
Is Old Spice Sold in China?
YES! Old Spice is sold in mainland China. In recent times, the laws in China related to post-market testing have changed, however cosmetic products are subjected to non-routine animal testing, especially if a consumer raises a complaint. And they are not required by law to inform the brand in case of such non routine animal tests.
Is Old Spice Vegan?
Can Old Spice products be considered Vegan? NO! Old Spice products are available in China where animal testing is mandatory and this cruelty towards animals when they undergo various tests goes against the ethics of veganism.
Apart from this, Old Spice also fails the second criterion as its products have certain ingredients which are derived from animals. Stearyl Alcohol and its by products (for eg (ceteareth 25) are made from animal fats, beeswax, lanolin and other such animal derived products are also used in hair and skin care cosmetics.
As Old Spice does not adhere to the two main criteria, the products are not vegan.
What is Old Spice’s Animal Testing Policy?
Old Spice does not have an official statement on their website with regards to animal testing. However, its parent company i.e Procter & Gamble have made various statements where they claim to be against animal testing albeit with the caveat of ‘when required by law’. This is because P&G sells their products in China.
P&G have invested a lot of money in alternative testing and are also in partnership with HSI (Humane Society International) and HSUS (Humane Society United States) to propagate cruelty free testing. However, they need to adopt stringent measures and add pressure on countries that still adhere to outdated forms of testing which cause unnecessary suffering of animals.
Is Old Spice Owned By a Parent Company?
YES! Procter & Gamble (P&G) is the parent company that owns Old Spice.
What Does Old Spice Sell?
Old Spice is a men’s care brand and has a range of products such as deodorants, body washes, hair and beard care products
What is Old Spice’s Current Cruelty-Free Position?
Old Spice’s position in 2021 is that the brand is not cruelty free.
Like many brands these days, Old Spice is also on the eco-friendly and sustainable resources route and has introduced plastic free tube packaging made from recycled paper for their deodorants. And P&G have claimed to cut down their virgin petroleum plastic usage by 50% by the year 2030.
These are surely good initiatives and welcomed however they are not enough on the path to a sustainable future.
I Use Old Spice Products. What Can I Do to Help?
As a loyal customer of the brand, you owe them your honest feedback of how you do not agree with certain policies of the company and that they have the power to make a difference and they should exercise that power for the good of the world and humanity.
