Is V05 Cruelty-Free And Vegan?
Alberto V05 is a haircare brand that offers a wide range of products, from shampoo and conditioner to their cult-favorite Conditioning Hairdressing treatment. Their products contain five essential vitamins: vitamin B3, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B5, and biotin for healthy hair. But is V05 cruelty-free and vegan?
Although V05 states that their finished products are not tested on animals, the brand is not cruelty-free due to their use of animal testing in other parts of their workflow and for exports to China. V05 also uses animal-derived ingredients in some of their products, so they are not a vegan company.
In this post, we’ll discuss why V05 isn’t cruelty-free, their parent company’s position on animal testing, how to identify whether their products are vegan, their stance on selling to China, and some cruelty-free hair care alternatives.
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Is V05 Cruelty-Free?
V05 state on their FAQ page that their finished products are not tested on animals, but this does not completely answer the question of whether or not V05 is cruelty free. The manufacturing process includes ingredients that are sourced from companies that have been known to use animal testing on them.
One of the reasons that suppliers, including those of V05, may test their ingredients on animals is to determine the safety of newly developed ingredients. So even if the final product is not tested on animals, if the ingredients it is made from have been, it is not cruelty-free.
V05 is also sold in markets where animal testing for certain types of products is required by law. China is one of these markets. Because V05 is sold in China, the finished products would have to be tested on animals before they can be placed on shelves in the country.
Is V05 Owned By A Parent Company That Tests On Animals?
V05 is owned by Unilever globally (they are owned by private equity firm Tengram Capital in the US). Unilever is known to make use of animal testing in some circumstances.
While Unilever has made statements supporting its commitment to ending the practice of testing cosmetics on animals worldwide, it has not entirely eradicated the practice from its own workflow.
One of the reasons for continued animal testing by the company is so that they can export to countries where the testing of certain cosmetics products is required by law, with China being the main example.
Another reason that Unilever has given for continuing to test on animals is with ingredients where they believe there are no suitable alternatives to determine their safety to humans. This is in the context of novel ingredients that the company has developed that have not had a chance to be tested by other companies in the past.
Is V05 Certified Cruelty-Free?
V05 is not certified as cruelty-free by any of the major organizations that perform cruelty-free certifications. V05 is not certified by PETA, nor is it part of Cruelty Free International’s Leaping Bunny Program, which is identifiable by the leaping rabbit logo.
Is V05 Vegan?
V-5 is not vegan because they use animal-derived ingredients in some of their products. V05 Conditioning Hairdressing, for instance, contains lanolin, which is derived from sheep’s wool. Lanolin is used as an emollient, which helps soften and smooth hair. It also contains biotin, which could be animal-derived.
Even if V05 did not use animal-derived ingredients in their products, since the brand conducts animal testing, they can’t be considered a truly vegan company.
If you are wondering whether a specific V05 product is vegan or not, the best thing to do in situations of uncertainty like this is to check the ingredients list on the label to determine whether there are any animal-derived ingredients in that item.
Do V05 Products Contain Animal-Derived Ingredients?
Some V05 products, like their Conditioning Hairdressing treatment, contain animal-derived ingredients. This particular product contains lanolin, which is derived from sheep’s wool, and biotin, which might be animal-based.
When reviewing an ingredient list to determine if a haircare product is vegan, some non-vegan ingredients to look for include, as previously noted, lanolin, along with keratin, which comes from animal hair and horns, and casein, which is derived from milk.
While glycerin is another ingredient that is frequently extracted from animal fat, V05 have confirmed that the glycerin that they use in their products is derived from plants and is vegan-friendly.
Are V05 Products Sold In China?
Alberto V05 products are sold in China. Whether or not a hair product or other cosmetic brand is found in physical stores in China is an easy way to identify which products are and are not cruelty-free, regardless of what statements the companies that own them may make about the products.
Until May 2021, the People’s Republic of China, frequently also referred to as Mainland China to distinguish it from Taiwan, mandated animal testing for all cosmetics products sold in the country, including both locally produced and imported products.
Although China no longer requires animal testing for products that it classifies as “general” cosmetics, any products not fitting into this very basic category are still bound by the same laws as before. This means that any cosmetic product deemed as a “special use product”, including some haircare products, will continue to be tested on animals to be sold in the country.
Regardless of product type, if a company has not submitted the proper certifications and documents proving product safety, their products will be tested on animals in China prior to hitting store shelves.
There are exceptions to China’s new animal testing laws. Products designed for infants and children, products containing “New Cosmetic Ingredients”, and products currently being supervised by authorities will also still be tested on animals.
What Are Some Cruelty-Free Haircare Brands Alternatives?
If you are looking for alternative haircare brands that are confirmed to be cruelty free, you can start with this list of haircare brands that are both cruelty-free and vegan:
These brands offer a wide variety of hair care products that are all vegan and have not been tested on animals. They are formulated for a variety of hair types and concerns, including hair growth, frizzy hair and curly hair.
Is V05 Cruelty-Free And Vegan? – Final Thoughts
Is V05 cruelty-free and vegan? Unfortunately, the answer to both questions is no. Although animal testing is not performed on finished V05 products, it is found in other parts of their workflow and is also conducted on V05 products sold in mainland China. Some of their products are not vegan, so they cannot be considered a vegan brand either.
If you want to ensure that your haircare products are not being tested on animals and do not contain any animal-derived ingredients, choose one of the brands from the list above as an alternative to Alberto V05 products.
Thanks for reading!
