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Clorox is NOT Cruelty-Free!
Clorox allows its products to be tested on animals when required by law.
Clorox’s Animal Testing Policy
While researching to learn more about Clorox’s cruelty-free status, I couldn’t find the brand’s official animal testing policy anywhere on its website.
So I reached out to Clorox to ask for more information about their animal testing policy. More specifically, I wanted to know if they commission or allow others to test their products/ingredients on animals, including when selling in countries that require animal testing (like in mainland China).
And Clorox responded by saying:
“Like you, we care about the welfare of animals and we want you to know that Clorox is committed to ending animal testing in our industry. We are and will continue to be relentless in our efforts to replace such testing by using existing data and alternative tests in all aspects of product safety testing. We will continue to be active leaders in the creation, development and validation of alternative methods to proving product safety. We do not conduct or ask third parties to conduct any animal testing on our products or the materials that go into those products unless we’re required by regulatory authorities.
For more than three decades, Clorox has been actively working toward a future where animal testing has no role in product development. We’ve engaged with regulators to accept innovative solutions that would eliminate current requirements. We also are playing a leadership role with a community of academics, industry scientists and government to create, develop and validate alternatives to confirm product safety.”
Based on the response I received from Clorox, the company admits to allowing its products to be tested on animals when required by regulatory authorities.
Truly cruelty-free brands will never allow their products or ingredients to be tested on animals. Cruelty-free companies have a policy where if the law requires them to test on animals then they will refuse to sell their products under those conditions.
For example, imported cosmetics sold in stores in mainland China are required by Chinese laws to be tested on animals upon registration. Therefore, truly cruelty-free brands have chosen not to sell in China in order to remain committed to their no-animal testing policy.
Unfortunately, Clorox states it will allow its products and ingredients to be tested on animals if the law requires it. For those reasons, Clorox is NOT cruelty-free.
Cruelty-Free Policies
At ethical elephant, we always assess a company’s cruelty-free policy using our Cruelty-Free Checklist. This ensures no animal testing was performed by the brand itself, its suppliers, or by any third parties, including when required by law.
See below for our complete cruelty-free checklist. Since Clorox state it allows its products or ingredients to be tested on animals when required by law, we cannot classify the brand as being cruelty-free.
Is Clorox Certified Cruelty-Free?
Clorox is not certified cruelty-free by any third-party cruelty-free certifications like Leaping Bunny or PETA.
Because Clorox is not certified cruelty-free by a third party, no one is looking into or substantiating Clorox’s cruelty-free commitments and claims.
Is Clorox Owned By A Non-Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
Yes. Clorox is owned by The Clorox Company, a parent corporation that still engages in animal testing in 2022.
Some cruelty-free consumers may choose to purchase and support cruelty-free brands owned by animal-tested parent corporations as they hope it will convince the parent company to become cruelty-free.
But in this case, Clorox is NOT cruelty-free and neither is its parent corporation, The Clorox Company.
Is Clorox Cruelty-Free?
To sum up, Clorox allows its products or ingredients to be tested on animals when required by law. Therefore, we would NOT consider Clorox to be a cruelty-free brand.
Currently, Clorox is on our List of Brands to Avoid – Animal Tested.
Is Clorox Vegan?
Clorox does not claim or market itself to offer any vegan-friendly options. And since Clorox engages in animal testing, we wouldn’t consider anything sold or produced by Clorox to be vegan anyways.
In order for products to be considered vegan by ethical elephant’s standards, the products and their ingredients must not be tested on animals anywhere in the world. Also, they must not contain any animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Clorox
Looking to switch to cruelty-free products? Here are some cruelty-free brands to check out:
Or check out our Guide to Cruelty-Free & Vegan Household Cleaning Brands!
