CRUELTY FREE SKINCARE

In recent years, there has been an increasing push to ban animal testing worldwide, and many countries have already put such bans in place. However, in China, animals are still routinely used in testing to assess the safety of products including cosmetic products. These tests are conducted by state-authorized institutes, without the involvement of the manufacturers. This data is not used by us in any of our safety assessments, nor do we require it in order to perform them. 

As a company, we still operate in China and believe that leaving the market is not a solution to the problem. However, our goal is to convince the Chinese authorities that animal testing for cosmetic products is unnecessary. There are regular discussions between Beiersdorf and the Chinese authorities on the ambition to stop the testing of products on animals. The Chinese authorities have already taken steps to facilitate the registration of products manufactured in China, such as shampoos and shower gels, without having to undergo animal testing, in an attempt to demonstrate their commitment. This is a positive development, and we will continue to advocate for the elimination of local tests on animals for all cosmetic product categories in China and on a global scale.

The term “vegan cosmetics” refers to skincare products, make-up, and toiletries, such as body and face washes, that do not contain animal-derived ingredients. There are many ingredients, which are made from what animals produce, such as beeswax, honey or milk. When sourced responsibly, these ingredients are renewable solutions, which are not only gentle to your skin but also to the animals who made them.

At the same time, some ingredients can be made from by-products of livestock farming for food production. In this context, the treatment of animals concerns many consumers. There are environmental issues, for example, deforestation to clear up more grazing land. With large-scale livestock farming significantly driving climate change, NIVEA takes these concerns seriously.

For many people, animal-derived ingredients do not reflect the values of living in harmony with animals. That is why they look for alternatives, such as vegan and plant-based skincare products.

NIVEA feels it is our responsibility to protect our beautiful planet because it is not only our home but also the home of millions of animal species, which rely on balanced ecosystems, such as forests, rivers, and savannahs.

In addition to making sure that we source our plant-based ingredients harmoniously with nature, NIVEA’s parent company, Beiersdorf, also aims to protect ecosystems with particularly high and unique biodiversity.

Our first ecosystem initiative  is located on the island of Borneo in Malaysia. We are working with local partners to protect wildlife habitats in Tabin, since this region is home to many rare species. The aim over the next five years is to stabilize the populations of endangered species, such as the rare Borneo elephant and the orangutan.

To achieve this goal, we will continue promoting sustainable palm oil production, and fight deforestation. By 2025, all palm oil farmers and a total area of 20,000 hectares in this region will be certified according to the internationally recognized RSPO standard (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil).