Your cart
There are no more items in your cart
What does “cruelty-free” mean?
At DrTung’s, eco-consciousness and cruelty-free are built into our DNA. We’ve maintained the same values and business integrity throughout the journey, from humble beginnings back in the 90's to becoming the #1 brand in the Natural Oral Care Tools category.* (* ref: SPINSscan Natural Channel, Total US, Oral Care Tools, 52wks 10/03/2021)
Cruelty-free means that a product and its ingredients were not tested on animals. We do not, nor have we ever, tested any products on animals. One of the ways we've shown our commitment to this important aspect of our business was to become a PETA Business Friend. And this month, we’re also excited to team up with our adorable friend @chesterthedutchie to help bring awareness to this crucial issue.
Let’s start with a little background
Untested cosmetics and drugs can have tragic outcomes when they contain chemicals that have serious and dangerous side effects. In 1938 the United States Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act was signed into law, requiring some safety substantiation of cosmetic products. This compelled companies to begin testing their products on animals.
Fortunately, in 1996 some animal protection groups banded together to form the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) with the aim to reduce suffering and cruelty towards animals and provide consumers the ability to identify products that are not tested on animals. By 2000 the ICCVAM Authorization Act (Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods) was signed. This law established a coordinated effort by United States agencies to evaluate and adopt test methods that reduce, refine or replace the use of animals.
While there has been a reduction in some of the inhumane testing, we should not condone any treatment on animals, who are living, breathing, sentient beings. "Animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way".1
How Big is the Animal Testing Industry?
Sadly, pretty much every conventional beauty product from shampoo to lipstick to body wash has ingredients that have been tested on animals before reaching your bathroom cabinet.
“Animal testing is a hot button issue with a multitude of opinions on each side. It’s an industry where there are entire companies dedicated to the breeding of animals used for experimental purposes. You can order whatever sort of beagle, rat, pig, or mouse (to mention a few) that your laboratory wants to test on. Universities, corporations, and companies all play a part in perpetuating the use of animals as research subjects.”2
Much of the research done on animals in the name of beauty is unconscionable. This Humane Society International’s news brief discloses some of the most common cruel experiments. Note: while some may find the information in the link(s) provided to be disturbing, as a Peta Business Friend we felt it was important to share this information.
It is estimated that more than 115 million animals worldwide are used in laboratory experiments every year. And then, after enduring a life of pain, loneliness and terror, almost all of them will be killed. The irony here is that much of the results gained from testing on animals provide little understanding of how chemicals behave in the human body, and in many cases do not correctly predict real-world human reactions.3
What is PETA? 
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world and is at the forefront of stopping this abuse. PETA works through public education, investigative news gathering and reporting, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns.4
To become a PETA Business Friend, companies must sign PETA’s statement of assurance or provide a statement verifying that they do not conduct or commission any animal tests on ingredients, formulations, or finished products and that they pledge not to do so in the future.
DrTung’s is a PETA Business Friend, is listed in the “does NOT test on animals” section and proudly displays the Cruelty-Free Bunny logo.
What you can do
If consumers are not made aware of the terrible conditions that animals are being forced to undergo then they are unknowingly supporting animal cruelty. Look for companies who display the Leaping Bunny or the Cruelty-Free Bunny logos. Websites like Leaping Bunny, and PETA’s cruelty-free search engine make it easy to start finding products that do not test on animals. We have the power to spare animals excruciating pain and suffering by making better choices.
